World’s largest Shivling reaches Bihar’s Gopal Ganj; officials face challenges in further transportation Patna

January 5, 2026

New Delhi: The Gopalganj district administration in Bihar is facing a serious challenge in transporting the world’s largest and heaviest Shivling. The dilapidated condition of the bridge over the Gandak River (also known as the Narayani River in the region) has made transporting the Shivling risky. The massive Shivling arrived in Gopalganj on Sunday morning.

District Magistrate Pawan Kumar Sinha stated that teams from the Bihar State Bridge Construction Corporation Limited (BRPNNL) and the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) have been called in to assess the condition of the bridge before transporting the Shivling. Furthermore, Bihar’s Minister of Bridge Construction and Rural Works, Ashok Chaudhary, will also arrive in Gopalganj to review the situation with officials and personally inspect the bridge.

Inspection reveals cracks on bridge, raising safety concerns

During a preliminary inspection, cracks were found at several locations on the bridge, raising serious safety concerns. The Shivalinga weighs approximately 210 tons and is loaded on a 106-wheel trailer, which weighs approximately 160 tons. This total weight far exceeds the bridge’s carrying capacity, making transportation extremely risky.

The Shivalinga was created in Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu, and it took 32 days to reach Gopalganj, covering a distance of 3,178 kilometers.

Alternative routes also unsuitable, administration exploring options

The Shivalinga is to be transported to the Virat Ramayan Temple in Motihari, the headquarters of East Champaran district. According to officials, two alternative routes are available to reach East Champaran, but the condition of both is not satisfactory.

One route passes through the 70-ghat bridge at Dumaria Ghat in Gopalganj district, but the bridge’s structural condition, load-bearing capacity, and approach roads are not capable of supporting the combined weight of the Shivling and the trailer. The other route passes through Bettiah town in West Champaran district, where numerous bridges and culverts exist, making the movement of such a heavy vehicle impossible without detailed inspection.

Currently, the district administration is assessing all possible options to ensure the safe transportation of the Shivling.