DEOGHAR

also spelled Deogarh, town, northeastern Bihar state, northeastern India. It is a major rail and road junction and agricultural trade centre. An ancient town, it is famous for its group of 22 temples dedicated to the Hindu god Siva (Shiva). Numerous Buddhist ruins are nearby. Deoghar has a hospital, tuberculosis clinic, and leper asylum and houses several colleges (including a teacher-training institute) affiliated with Bhagalpur University. The Muslim invader Bakhtiyar Khalji made Deoghar his capital in 1201 after the conquest of Bihar. It was constituted a municipality in 1869. Pop. (1981) town, 52,904; metropolitan area, 59,120.