Nonetheless, the region has a linguistic and cultural affinity with Bengal. Excavation at Balirajgarh revealed brick fortifications dating back to the 2nd century BC. Demographics The 2011 Census of India recorded Darbhanga as an Urban agglomeration with a population of 380,125 while the surrounding district has 3 million people. It is the 5th largest city in Bihar in terms of the urban population. The city has 196,573 males (52.6%) and 183,552 females (47.4%). Darbhanga has an average literacy rate of 79.40%, with male literacy at 85.08% and female literacy at 73.08%. However, as per the document published on 6 March 2021 by the office of District Magistrate Darbhanga, the urban population of Darbhanga stands 380,125 Transport Railways Darbhanga Junction lies on the East Central Railway. It is connected directly to all the major cities of India. Laheriasarai Railway Station is Second Major Station of Darbhanga Junction and works as an important Railway Station for people living in south Darbhanga. There are daily and weekly train available for , , , , , , , , , & other major Cities. Darbhanga Airport Darbhanga also has its own commercial airport which is connected with all the major cities of India. Darbhanga Airport (IATA: DBR, ICAO: VE89) is a civil enclave at the Darbhanga Air Force Station of the Indian Air Force, 6 kilometres from Darbhanga City near the and East-West Corridor Expressway which passes through Darbhanga. The civil enclave is operated by the Airports Authority of India (AAI). The foundation stone for the project was laid by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and then Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu in the presence of state Civil Aviation Minister Jayant Sinha on 24 December 2018. Commercial flights started on 8 November 2020. Roadways Darbhanga is connected to other parts of India by , and Bihar State highways 50, 56, 88 and 75. Darbhanga is also connected to Samastipur, Madhubani and Sitamarhi. The East-West Corridor expressway, which connects Porbandar in Gujarat to Silchar in Assam, passes through Darbhanga. The Amas–Darbhanga Expressway is an approved 4/6-lane wide access-controlled expressway in India. Once completed, it will be the first expressway in the state of Bihar. connects Amas village in Gaya district to Bela Nawada village in Darbhanga district. Geography Darbhanga is located in the northern part of Bihar. It lies between 25.53 degrees - 26.27 degrees N and 85.45 degrees - 86.25 degrees E at an average