Harihar Nath Temple, Sonepur

A rare temple where Hari (Vishnu) and Hara (Shiva) are worshipped together in a single Shivalinga — half Shiva, half Vishnu. Set near the sacred confluence of the Gandak and Ganga, it is traditionally believed to have been founded by Lord Rama on his way to Sita's swayamvar. Every year it anchors the famous Sonepur Mela, once among Asia's largest cattle and elephant fairs.

The Harihar Nath Temple at Sonepur stands near the meeting of the Gandak and Ganga rivers. Its uniqueness lies in the Shivalinga, said to be the only one depicting Shiva (Hara) in one half and Vishnu (Hari) in the other — hence the name Harihar Nath.

Local tradition credits its founding to Lord Rama; the present structure is attributed to Raja Ram Narain in the late Mughal period. The temple is inseparable from the Sonepur Mela, held in the month of Kartik (October–November), an ancient fair drawing pilgrims and traders from far and wide.

• Harihar Shivalinga — half Shiva, half Vishnu.
• Sacred confluence — the Gandak meets the Ganga nearby.
• Sonepur Mela — one of the oldest and largest fairs in Asia.

• By Air: Jay Prakash Narayan International Airport, Patna (~25 km).
• By Rail: Sonpur Junction (~2 km) is a major station across the river from Patna, via the Mahatma Gandhi Setu / rail bridge.
• By Road: Sonepur is about 25 km from Patna over the Ganga bridge; buses, autos and taxis are readily available.

October to March; the Sonepur Mela in Kartik (Nov) is the grandest time to visit.