Sheikhpura district

It is believed that during the Mahabharata era, a demoness named Hiḍimbā lived in the hillocks of Sheikhpura's eastern stretch. She married Bhima, one of the Pandava brothers, and they had a heroic son named Ghatotkacha. The hill was later named Girihinda after Hidimba where Giri means a hill in Sanskrit, and the village of Girihinda still exists today.

Sheikhpura also served as a significant administrative center during the Pallava reign. It is also believed that the Afghan ruler Sher Shah Suri had the notable Dal Kuan (well) constructed there.

During the Mughal period, Sheikhpura was designated as a Thana. Under British rule, it became a Big Kotwali, and after independence, it was recognized as a Block. On 14 April 1983, Sheikhpura was established as a Subdivision. It was split from the Munger district into a separate district with headquarters in Sheikhpura on 31 July 1994 due to political efforts of Rajo Singh.^[4][5]

The Sheikhpura district occupies an area of 689 square kilometres (266 sq mi),^[6] comparatively equivalent to the Solomon Islands' Kolombangara.^[7]

The Sheikhpura district is headed by an IAS officer of the rank of District Magistrate (DM). The district is divided into sub-divisions or Tehsils, each headed by a Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM).

These Tehsils are further divided into Blocks, each headed by a Block development officer (BDO).

Sheikhpura is one of the smallest districts of Bihar. The population of Sheikhpura primarily depends on agriculture. Bonded labour may still occur.^[8] Small-scale mining operations of smaller hillocks with crushers is another of the main activities. In 2006 the Ministry of Panchayati Raj named Sheikhpura one of the country's 250 most-impoverished districts.^[9] It is one of the 36 districts in Bihar currently receiving funds from the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme.^[9]

The district administration is committed to diversification of energy supply towards green sources like solar energy. ^[10]

As part of Bihar Government's initiative of opening at least one Government Degree College in each block of the state having zero college, four new colleges were inaugurated on 15 July 2026 by the Bihar CM Samrat Chaudhary. The four new colleges were opened in Ariari, Chewara, Ghatkusumbha and Shekhopursarai blocks of Sheikhpura district. ^{[11] [12]}

Colleges

• R. D. College, Sheikhpura
• S. K. R. College, Barbigha, Sheikhpura
• S. S. College, Mehus, Sheikhpura
• C. N. B. College, Hathiama, Sheikhpura
• Sanjay Gandhi Mahila College, Sheikhpura
• Rajkiye Degree Mahavidyalaya, Ariari, Sheikhpura
• Rajkiye Degree Mahavidyalaya, Ghatkusumbha, Sheikhpura
• Rajkiye Degree Mahavidyalaya, Shekhopursarai, Sheikhpura
• Rajkiye Degree Mahavidyalaya, Chewara, Sheikhpura

The roadways and railways are the major modes of transport in the district. The major railways stations in the district include Barbigha, Sarsa Jamalpur, Matokhar, Sheikhpura, Sirari, etc.^[13]

According to the 2011 Census of India, Sheikhpura district had a population of 636,342,^[2] giving it a ranking of 516th in India.^[2] The district had a population density of 922 inhabitants per square kilometre (2,390/sq mi).^[2] Its population growth rate over the decade 2001–2011 was 20.82%.^[2] Sheikhpura had a sex ratio of 926 females for every 1000 males,^[2] and a literacy rate of 65.96%. 17.13% of the population lives in urban areas. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes make up 20.60% and 0.10% of the population respectively.^[2]

• Munger University
• Munger division
• List of urban local bodies in Bihar
• List of villages in Sheikhpura district
• Maa Vatsala Bhavani Mandir Pharpar