________________ Some Islamic Remains in Hajipur 379 outside the edifice covering an area of 513 yards square. The Masjid which lies by its side is comparatively new and recent additions have been made in it. The custodian of the mosque ascribed the tombs to Jamal and Kamal about whose identity be could give no details. The town of Hajipur situated on the eastern bank of the Gandaka was once a very important place because of its strategic position and commanding situation. It was founded by Shamsuddin Ilyas Shah Haji, an independent King of Bengal in about 1345-58 A. D. From early Hindu times a town had existed on this site and Haji Ilyas simply gave a new name to the town which was formerly known as Haripur. He is said to have strengthened the town with a large fort of which there is no sign at present except the ruins of the old rampart on high ground. Lying on the bank of the Gandaka the fort was in good order in the time of Akbar when it was wrested from officers of Daud Khan, the last independent Afghan King of Bengal and Bibar. The town of Hajipur is said to have extended upto Mabpar, sixteen miles east and to the north upto Gadai Sarai, a village four miles from Hajipur on the way to Lalganj. Hajipur in olden days was a very flourishing town and is said to have contained in the hey-day of its glory 360 mahallas. The names of some of the mahallas can be gleaned from private papers of some of the local people or from survey reports. Andar Qila, Nakhas (market). Rambhadra, Ramchaura, Bawli, Kattra, Noongola, Medpi Mal, Pathan Tola, Syed Wara, Muftipore, Minapore, Khatajungi, Pokbar Tajkban Bajkban, Bibi Ka Rawza, Anwarpore, Daulatpore, Yusufpore, Lodipore, a John Marshall who speaks very highly of "Sa Suja's (Shah Shuja) garden, the pleasantest place I have seen in India" situated somewhere near Sonepore or on an Island formed by the two rivers, tells us that "opposite to the garden on the other side of the river (Gandak) is Hajipur which is an ancient and ruined town, but hath been a famous place and the seat of Kings.'; He was the first European to visit Vaibali where he arrived on 30th July, 1670, He saw the pillar of Asoka as well.. 2. Lodipore is so named after Lodi, the celebrated general of Sulaiman Kararani. He was responsible for the installation of Daud Kban but his murder at the hands of Daud was one of the chief causes of the fall of the latter, and the extinction of his dynasty.
