According to local traditions, the name Buxar is derived from a lake in the town named Aghsar (effacer of Sin), which in course of time became Baghsar and took the present form that is Buxar. Another vedic legend states that, a sage or rishi named Besira transformed himself to take the look of a Tiger to frighten Durvasa rishi, and doomed by him to retain the form of Tiger forever. In order to restore his Human's form, Bedsira bathed in the holy pond of Aghsar and worshipped Gaurishankar. To commemorate this event the spot was called Vyaghrasar and later became Baghsar (The Tiger's pond).[5]
As of 2011[update] India census,[6] Buxar had a population[7] of 102,861. Males constitute 52.65% of the population and females 47.35%. 16% of the population is under 6 years of age.
The 2011 census recorded the city of Buxar as having a literacy rate of 83.82%, with an 11.24% gap between male literacy (89.13%) and female literacy (77.89%). The whole of Buxar district had a literacy rate of 70.14%, with Buxar block (comprising both rural and urban areas) had a literacy rate of 77.45%, the highest in the district.[8]
Economy
Buxar is an important regional commercial and trade hub, with connections via road and rail along with river transport on the Ganges. Along with Dumraon, Buxar is one of the main centres for trade and industry in the district. Soap and furniture are manufactured in both cities. Major exports from Buxar include rice, paddy, gur, mango, vegetables, fish, and jail-related manufactured goods. Major imports include engineering goods and medicine.[9]
Villages
In addition to the urban settlements of Buxar and Sarimpur, Buxar block encompasses 132 villages. Of these, 97 are inhabited and 35 are uninhabited:[8]
