Darbhanga

Darbhanga Dorbhanga
City
From Top: Kameshwar Singh Darbhanga Sanskrit University, Darbhanga Fort, Lalit Narayan Mithila University, Nargona Palace, Anandbag Palace, Shyama Mai Temple, Darbhanga Airport, Darbhanga Planetarium
Nickname:  Cultural Capital of Bihar
Darbhanga Location in Bihar Show map of Bihar Darbhanga Darbhanga (India) Show map of India Darbhanga Darbhanga (Asia) Show map of Asia
Coordinates: 26°10′N 85°54′E / 26.17°N 85.9°E / 26.17; 85.9
Country	India
State	Bihar
Region	Mithila
District	Darbhanga
Established	01 January 1875
Government
• Type	Municipal Corporation
• Body	Darbhanga Municipal Corporation
• Mayor	Smt. Anjum Ara
• Municipal Commissioner	Shri Kumar Gaurav (IAS)
• SP City	Shri Sagar Kumar (IPS)
• Member of Parliament	Gopal Jee Thakur (BJP)
• MLA	Sanjay Saraogi (BJP)
Area [1]
• Total	39.83 km2 (15.38 sq mi)
Elevation	52 m (171 ft)
Population  (2011)
• Total	296,039
Demonym	Darbhangvi
Languages
• Official	Hindi[2]
• Additional official	Urdu[3]
• Regional	Maithili
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN	846001–846009[4][5]
Telephone code	06272
ISO 3166 code	IN-BR
Vehicle registration	BR-07
Sex ratio	1000:910 ♂/♀
Lok Sabha constituency	Darbhanga
Vidhan Sabha constituency	Darbhanga, Darbhanga Rural, Bahadurpur, Keoti, Jale, Kusheshwar Asthan, Gaura Bauram, Benipur, Alinagar, Hayaghat
Website	darbhanga.bih.nic.in

Darbhanga is the fifth largest city and municipal corporation in the state of Bihar in India, and is considered an important city in North Bihar. It serves as the headquarters of the Darbhanga district and the Darbhanga division. It is held that the name Darbhanga has been derived from Dwar Banga or Dari – Banga, meaning the 'door of Bengal'.^[6]

Darbhanga was the seat of the erstwhile Khandwala zamidaar dynasty under the Mughals and British India. It is considered an important medical centre of North Bihar as it is the location of the Darbhanga Medical College and Hospital, and the second AIIMS of the state is to be constructed here.^{[7][8][9][10]}

Darbhanga is one of the oldest cities in India. Musical, folk art, and literary traditions in Sanskrit,Urdu ,Hindi and Maithili have passed down generations in Darbhanga and constitute the city's strong cultural background. It is popularly known as the "Cultural Capital of Bihar" and the "Heart of Mithilaanchal".^[11]