Bihar The fifth-largest sub-metropolitan region in the eastern Indian state of Bihar is Sharif, which also serves as the headquarters of the Nalanda district. Its name is a compound term made up of the words Sharif, which means noble, and Bihar, which is derived from vihara, the name of the state.[6] The city serves as a hub for trade and education in southern Bihar, and its economy is based primarily on agriculture with supplementary industries including household manufacture, tourism, and education. The city is close to the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the historic Nalanda Mahavihara ruins.