FAQs about Sonepur Mela/ Fair.

=The fair runs for 20-25days officially but goes upto 1-1.5 months but the main attraction of the mela, mainly, elephants and other animals/ livestock get traded within first week-10 days itself. So the visit in the first week of the mela is most worthy. As you can catch Elephants and large number of other domesticated animals besides the grand Ganga-snan bath, where lakhs of people participate, a very rare and picture-able moment. This year fair suppose to begin on 17th November, 2013 so make your schedule as that you reach ground zero at least a day before 17th (16th Nov.).

= Staying in and around Sonepur during mela venue is not that easy. Accommodation starts from very basic and cheap hotels in Hajipur (5kms but only limited accommodation available for early birds) and Patna is almost 30-35 kms away from Sonepur. Travelers/ Fair-goers are advised to stay in Hajipur/ Patna rather than staying in the mela venue at Sonepur due to security reasons.
Sonepur have no hotels, except a Government guest House; that too not in proper shape. So avoid the option of staying at Sonepur. But fully furnished Swiss-type Cottages (with attached western toilets) in the Tourist village set up at the Sonepur Fair Grounds, supported by catering and security facilities and offering complimentary elephant ride, which is surely worth a try.

Sonepur, being a small town, can also be good place to stay in the Cottages of the Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation (BSTDC), especially built for the fair-goers at the mela site itself. They have also guesthouse facilities at Sonepur. Kindly contact the BSTDC official and get the accommodation booked well before your arrival. Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation (BSTDC) Tourist Bhawan, Beer Chand Patel Path, Patna-800 001 Tel: 0612-2225411, 2210219. Fax: 0612-2236218 Email: bstdc@rediffmail.com, bstdc@rediffmail.com /  Web: http://bstdc.bih.nic.in/Destinations/SonepurFair.htm

Patna is another option, where good number of Hotels/ lodge/ stay-ins is available; of wide range/ rates. Since stretches of one side of Gandhi setu is always on repair, frequent jams take place - the reason it is stressed to stay at Hajipur to cover the Mela well. Otherwise, on a normal day it takes at least 1 hr each way from Patna and double the time if stuck on the bridge.

Patna Patna has a number of luxury and other hotels offering both air-conditioned and non-air conditioned rooms. Many low priced lodges and guest houses are also available, particularly adjoining the Railway Station, Frazer Road and around the Gandhi Maidan. ·             1. Hotel Maurya Lok: South Gandhi, Maidan Patna, Patna, Bihar (5 Star) http://www.maurya.com/ ·             2. Hotel Patliputra Ashoka (5 Star) http://ashokpatna.com/ ·             3. Samrat International: Fraser Road, Patna, Bihar (3 Star) http://www.hotelsamrat.org/ ·             4. Hotel President : Fraser Road, Patna ( 2 Star) http://www.hotelpresidentpatna.com/ ·             5. Hotel Windsor : Exhibition Road, Patna http://hotelwindsorpatna.com/ ·            Online Book over Cleartrip/ Makemytrip for Patna (Range: Rs 500- Rs 10,000/- per day)

Hajipur

Hotels in Hajipur are cheaper and it may not exceed Rs 1,000 (INR)~ 20 US$ per day for a double bed room

SN.		Name	Address	Contact details
1.		Lichhavi Hotel	Dakbangla Road, Hajipur
2.		Anamika Hotel	NH-19, Nr Paswan Chowk, Hajipur-Patna link Road, Hajipur	06224-272774/ 9279823617/ 9234335561 info@hotelanamika.com/rajkumar@hotelanamika.com   http://www.hotelanamika.com/
3.		Pankaj Hotel	Anwarpur Chowk, Hajipur	9835044750
4.		Hotel Vaishali	Cinema Road, Hajipur
5.		Fun and Food Restaurant and Hotel	Paswan Chowk, Hajipur-Patna link Road, Hajipur	9199313598/ 9234042336
6.		Piyush Hotel	Gandhi Aashram, Hajipur
7.		Fun Point Resort, Bar & Restaurant	Paswan Chowk, Hajipur-Patna link Road, Hajipur	06224-273178/ 9234347288
8.		Holiday Inn Restaurant and Bar	Paswan Chowk, Hajipur-Patna link Road, Hajipur
9.		Hotel Shivam	Hospital Road, Thana Chowk, Hajipur
10.		Other Number of Stay-inns	Opp. Railway Stn.

So the Best option is to stay at Sonepur (Tents or Cottages erected by Tourism Deptt.)/ Hajipur, so that you can spend more time at the Mela and its surroundings. The nights are also very lively with the cultural events, folk songs-dances etc. So Hajipur can be next choice, provided booked in advance (approx. 1 month prior-October).

= I have spent almost 20 years of my growing here (Hajipur), and Sonepur is just adjoining (5km) it. I never felt any threat/ risk, as projected in media, particularly in International circles. But, yes there is sure need to be cautious, particularly, if you anyone is travelling alone with camera and heavy backpacks. Most of the times yone has to carry cash as there are few ATMs and that too works irregularly (due to power crisis in Bihar).

Regarding robbing/ murdered, except 1-2 off- instances that too during 8-10 years from now, it has never been the case here. As of now the police vigil is tight and extra security can be arranged by the Mela organizers/ local administration, if requested.

So be ensured that you are safe here and no more risk factor involved in visiting the fair, provided taking proper precautions as we there are still some thug elements exist everywhere among the crowd, who often try to mingle and pickpocket/ run away with valuables and attack if challenged/ resisted.