History

The district of Nawada which was formally a sub-division of the old district of Gaya, came to be notified as a revenue district some time in the year 1973.The Judgeship, however as created on 21.01.1984 with Sri Phanindra Kumar Sharan as its first District and Sessions Judge. On its western border is situated the parent district of Gaya known for its religious importance for the Hindus all over the world. On the east of the district is situated the district of Jamui which was till not very late a sub-division of the old district of Munger. The district of Nawada finds on its immediate southern border the district of Koderma in the state of Jharkhand. The said National highway also touches the town of Nawada. At a distance of little more than only ten kilometers from the northern border of the district Nawada situates on the east of said national highway in the district of Nalanda the well known temple of Pawapuri where Lord Mahavir, according to the Jain belief, took Nirvana. On the north-west border of the district situates Rajgir in the district of Nalanda.Rajgir had also been the capital of the empire of Magadh in the days of Ajatashatru and the preceding kings. It also figures as a religious place in the Budhist and Jain maps. The district of Nawada which has thus got on its borders quite a few historical and mythlogical places of importance, is known in the jain religion also for the attainment of Kaivalya by the first disciple of Lord Mahavir, Sri Gautam Swami at Gunawan, a village near Nawada town, and therefore, attracts the jain pilgrims.

Apart from Nawada Sadar the district has another sub-division as well named as Rajauli. The town of Rajauli situates on NH-31 nearly 35 km. south of Nawada town. At a distance of nearly fifteen kilometers further south one finds the northern border of the state of Jharkhand. In the vicinity of the town of Rajauli there are seven hillocks which, as believed by the local people, housed on their tops the Ashrams of Saptarishi. Two to three kilometers west of the National highway aforesaid and at a distance of six to seven kilometers from the town of Rajauli is situated a dam known as Fulwariya Dam meant for irrigation. The dam presents a very beautiful sight and is flanked on one of its sides by a towering hillock. But the area is supposed to be under the influence of Naxalites.

The only source of substance for the people of Nawada is agriculture, as there is no industry at all. For agriculture, the farmers have to depend entirely on the rain God as there is hardly any worth mentioning irrigation system in the entire district. Fulwariya dam aforesaid is still under construction. Even tube wells are rarely to be found in the district comprised of fourteen blocks.