Manjhi Saran

The village Manjhi Saran has an ancient fort on the riverbank. Manjhi Saran village is in elliptical form and the mound has revealed brick built ramparts, still visible at the northwestern side. It covers an area of 1400` x 1050` and has earthen ramparts to strengthen the main wall, the outer side was also defended by a ditch on north and east and by the river Ganges towards south and west. The remains of two vaulted underground chambers, secret passages, can be seen through the southern section of the ramparts. The average height is 30` while the bricks measure 18" x 10" x 3". The only antiquities found here include two statues now in the Madhesvara Temple.

One is an image of Buddha in the Bhumi-sparsha-mudra. To the east of the mound, is another large and low plateau covered with potsherds and brickbats. It is called the site of Raja`s Kutcheri (court).

Abul Fazal in Ain-i-Akbari mentions this ancient city Manjhi Saran. Manjhi Saran name is significant amongst the lower class people living in Bihar. The local traditions associate the ruins with the chiefs of Dows, Dusadhs or Mallahs (regarded s from the lower caste), one version attributes the fort to Manjhi Makra, chief of the Chero dynasty. This local chief was driven away by the Harihobans Rajputs of Haldi, from the nearby Balia district of Uttar Pradesh, for having asked the hand of a Rajput princess. During the reign of Shah Hasan this jagir went to Khemajit Rai of Gadh Phuphand near Fyzabad, who was later converted to Islam and whose descendants held the place till 1835.