Deoghar (Devagriha), or the abode of the Gods, is the headquarters of the Sub- division of the same name in the district of Santhal Parganas, and is located four miles to the south-east of Jasidih Junction on the main line of the Eastern Railway from Howrah to Delhi. There is a small branch line of the same railway from Jasidih to Deoghar. 

Deoghar has a picturesque location. To the north of -the town there is a wood called Data Jungle after a fakir; to the north-west is a low wooded hill called Nandan Pahar; and to the east about 10 miles away there is a low range of hills known as Tiur or Trikutaparvata.There are a number of small hills to the south-east, south and southwest. There are two rivulets Yamunajor and Dharua near the town. The countryside around Deoghar has an attractive set-up with undulations, water courses and small hills.  Deoghar or Devagriha has a large number of temples within the circumference of a few miles. The temple of Baidyanath or Shiva is the most important of all the temples and attracts a large number of pilgrims all the year round. 

The legends about the Shiva temple are various. One legend is that in the Treta Yuga the demon Ravana, king of Lanka (Ceylon), propitiated Lord Mahadeva and wanted him to come over to Lanka. Mahadeva did not agree to this prayer but told Ravana that one of the twelve emblems of His divinity, Jyotirlinga, would be quite as effective as His presence and that he might take it away on the condition that there should be no break in the journey and the lingam would not be deposited anywhere on the earth.The condition was that if the lingam were put anywhere on the earth in the course of the journey, it would be fixed to that spot forever. The legend is that Ravana agreed to this condition and took the lingam and started his journey back to Lanka. 
The gods dreaded the effect of the lingam being established at the seat of the demon king. A ruse was devised and Varuna, the god of the waters, entered the stomach of Ravana and the demon had to descend to earth to relieve him. Later, Vishnu, in the garb of an old Brahmin, appeared before Ravana, after his descent to the earth, and began to converse with him. Ravana requested the Brahmin to kindly hold the Jyotirlinga for a few minutes so that he could relieve himself.Lord Vishnu readily agreed to it and, as soon as Ravana turned his back to relieve himself, he left the Jyotirlinga on the spot and vanished. When Ravana came back, he found that the Jyotirlinga was firmly fixed to the earth and realized that a trick had been played on him lie even tried violence to remove the lingam and thereby broke a piece off the top of the lingam. However, failing to remove the lingam, he made his obeisance to the lingam and daily he used to come from Lanka and worship the divinity. The spot where Ravana came down to the earth has been identified with Harlajuri, about four miles north of Deoghar and the place where the lingam was deposited is known as Deoghar.The lingam is of a cylindrical forming about 5 inches in diameter and projects about 4 inches from the centre of a large slab of basalt. It is not possible to ascertain how much of the lingam is buried. The top is broken and has uneven surface and the fracture is attributed lo the Story already mentioned.

There are different porches in the temple. One porch leads to the cell where the lingam is fixed. The second porch is in front with a row of pillars spanned by blocks of basalt and on the right side there is a sandstone image of a bull. There are bells fixed in the ceiling and pilgrims are supposed to pull the bell-ropes to announce their approach to the divinity. 

THE ABODE OF GODS
Located in northeastern Bihar, Deoghar is a major Hindu pilgrimage and a famous health resort. It has the ancient temple of Baba Baidyanath, which is one of the twelve 'jyotirlingas' in India. Baidyanath Dham, situated in the Santhal Parganas of Bihar, is a very important piligrim centre. It's famous for the temple of Shiva-Baidyanath and the place is a popular holiday centre. 
Deoghar is an ancient town famous for its group of 22 temples dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. Numerous Buddhist ruins are also located nearby. Deoghar has a hospital, a tuberculosis clinic, and a leper asylum and houses several colleges (including a teacher-training institute) affiliated with Bhagalpur University. The Muslim invader Bhaktiyar Khilji made Deoghar his capital in 1201 after the conquest of Bihar. 

Baidyanath Temple:
The temple is situated in a spacious courtyard bound by stone walls. In the temple complex are twenty-two other temples. The Baijnath or Vaidyanath temple faces east. The top of the Shiva Lingam is slightly broken, keeping with the legend that it chipped away when Ravana tried to uproot it. For centuries, devotees of Lord Shiva, in the months of July - August undertake a rigorous100 km. pilgrimage on foot, from Ajgaibinath to offer holy water to Baba Baidyanath.  

Sivaganga Lake:
Near the temple, is the beautiful lake called Sivaganga.

The Chandrakoopa Well: 
Located near the main entrance, this well is said to have been built and consecrated with water from several 'tirthams' by Ravana. Nandan hills, Naulakha Mandir and Tapovan are worth seeing.

Basukinath Temple (42 kms): 
It is famous for Shiva Temple and the pilgrimage to Deoghar is considered incomplete, without paying homage at Basukinath.

Harila Joria (8 kms): 
This site is well known for Shiva Temple. 

Trikut (16 kms):
It is the source of the River Mayurakshi, which is a prime attraction here. 

Mandar Hills (69 kms):
It is believed to be have been used by the gods, to churn the oceans. 

Sultanganj(100 kms): 
This place is situated between the two banks of the river Ganges. 

Rail: The nearest Railway Station is Baidyanath Dham (Deoghar), which is a terminal station of a 7 kms branch line orignating from Jasidih Junction. 

Road: Long distance buses connect Baidyanath Dham with Bhagalpur, Hazaribagh, Ranchi, Tatanagar, Gaya etc. 

Local Transport: Unmetered Taxis, Scooters, Cycle Ricksaws are available. 

Natraj Vihar, Deoghar, Tel. # 22422. Yatrika Baidyanath Vihar, Deoghar. 

Tourist Information Centre, Government of Bihar, Station Road. Tel # 208; 
Tourist Information Centre, Government of Bihar, 26-B, Camac Street, Calcutta- 700 016. Tel. # 247-0821. 
Conducted Tours: Department of Tourism, Government of Bihar operates local sightseeing tour to Tapavan, Naulakha etc,during season. Timing: From 1400 hours to 1600 hours.