Bihar is deeply linked with ancient Indian history. The greatest empires of ancient India built their capital cities here. Buddhism, too , began its triumphant march across East Asia from Bihar. Bihar falls into two parts, the northern region in the Gangetic plain and , the southern region in the north Deccan plateau area known as Chota Nagpur. Ancient Sanskrit texts mention four kingdoms in the region but by the sixth century BC, the time of the Buddha, Magadha had established its supremacy under the rulers Bimbisara and Ajatashatru.

Pataliputra became the chief city of India under the Mauryas and the Guptas, two imperial dynasties which established pan-Indian empires. Now the capital of Bihar state, Patna has a continuous history of about 2,500 years.The city sprawls on the south bank of the Ganges, for about 20 kilometers. Other places of interest include the unique Goleghar, a huge dome- shaped granary built by the British in 1786 which provides a fine view of the city from its top; Padri Ki Haveli, a Catholic church built in the late 19th century; and the Khudbaksh Oriented Library, founded in 1900 and housing rare Arabic and Persian manuscripts, Sanskrit texts and Mughal and Rajput paintings.

Southern Bihar is very different from the north. The main towns in the region, Ranchi, Jamshedpur and Dhanbad, are all industrial towns. Ranchi is still a quiet place and some times considered a minor hill station. At 651 meters, it has a more pleasant climate than much of the state during the monsoon and winter months. Jamshedpur, further to the south near the border with Orissa, is India's industrial showpiece.