Bhagalpur sits on the southern bank of the Ganges in eastern Bihar, known for two things above all others: Tussar silk and river dolphins. The city has been a centre for Tussar (wild silk) weaving for centuries, and the weavers' neighbourhoods — particularly around Nathnagar — are worth exploring to see the handlooms in action and buy fabric directly. For many visitors, though, the bigger draw is the Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary, a stretch of the Ganges that's home to one of the largest remaining populations of endangered Gangetic river dolphins.
The ancient ruins of Vikramshila Mahavihara, a 9th-century Buddhist university founded by the Pala dynasty, lie about 50km east near Kahalgaon — a rewarding half-day trip from the city, particularly for those with an interest in Buddhist history. The Bhagalpur Museum has a useful collection of Pala-period sculptures and regional finds. The Budhanath Temple on the sacred northward-flowing stretch of the Ganges is one of the city's principal shrines and busy with pilgrims year-round.
Bhagalpur itself is a busy commercial town without much tourist infrastructure, but it's a genuine place to encounter everyday Bihar. The city is at its most atmospheric in the Nathnagar weaving quarter and along the ghats at dawn.