Bhagalpur was the capital of Anga at the time of the great Mahabharata, and a place of consideration from a very ancient date to at least the eighth and ninth centuries. Fifty yojans more to the east, at the confluence of the river with the sea, was the kingdom of To-mo-li-ti. The religion of Buddha was in a nourishing state in this principality, and Fa Hian abode there two years, transcribing manuscripts and copying images. Bhagalpur was an English civil station that is it is the residence of an English Collector during the British Raj.

The city has a Jain temple in which is placed the Padam or the sculptured feet of the god Vasupujya Tirthakara who obtained moksha or salvation at this place. It is said that this temple was established formerly by the king Srenika Maha Rajah and in the front of that temple stood two or turrets and bricks of the height of two coconut trees. It is said that about four centum ago there was a merchant named Mari Chund of the Jaina sect who dwelt in this city. He built four pillars of these sizes at this place and laid a terrace on them, standing upon which every morning after he rose he could see the hill of medha Parvattam and so visit the temple of that sacred place.

Of the four pillar, two have disappeared entirely while two are still in good condition. In the foot of the bottom of the pillar on the left is a hole into which it a man can pass through. The Jain pilgrims when worshipping the sculptured feet during pujya proceed to the mouth of that feet and cast into it cocoa nuts, cardamom, nutmegs and sweets. It is thought that there were many Jain images in that city and that all the ancient sages were accustomed formerly to go into the rank to visit those images. On the east and north of the temple of Vasupujva were tanks and between them is а grove where the pilgrims rested.