MONGHYR

also spelled Munger, town, administrative headquarters of Monghyr district, Bihar state, northeastern India, on the Ganges River. Monghyr is said to have been founded by the Guptas (4th century AD) and contains a fort that houses the tomb of the Muslim saint Shah Mushk Nafa (died 1497). In 1763 Mir Qasim, nawab of Bengal, made Monghyr his capital and built an arsenal and several palaces. It was constituted a municipality in 1864. With major rail, road, and ferry steamer connections, it is an important grain market. Industries include the manufacture of firearms and swords and ebony work. The town contains one of the largest cigarette factories in India. To the southeast is the pilgrimage site and thermal springs of Sitakund. Monghyr district (3,061 sq mi [7,928 sq km]) consists of alluvial plains stretching south of the Ganges River. In the far south are the forested Kharagpur hills, rising to 1,607 ft (490 m) at Ambinath, and parts of the Chota Nagpur Plateau. Rice, corn (maize), wheat, gram, and oilseeds are the chief crops; mica, slate, and limestone deposits are worked. Jamalpur and Simaltala are important rail and commercial centres. Pop. (1991) town, 150,112; district, 3,060,027.