Ara House

Ara House, also known as Arrah House, is a small two-storey fortified colonial building in Arrah, Bhojpur district, Bihar. Built in the early 19th century as a collector's bungalow and billiard room, it became famous during the Siege of Arrah in July-August 1857 when a small group of British civilians and Sikh policemen defended it for eight days. Now a protected monument under the Archaeological Survey of India, it functions as an archaeological museum displaying artefacts and retains bullet marks and arched verandas.

Visitors can expect a compact two-storey brick building with arched verandas, thick walls and a fortified appearance set within a small walled compound in central Arrah. Inside, the building houses a small archaeological museum with stone sculptures, inscriptions and artefacts from the region. The exterior shows marks of the 1857 siege. The site is surrounded by an urban setting near Maharaja College and Ramna Maidan, with a quiet courtyard for viewing the structure and exhibits.

Ara House was built in the early 19th century as a bungalow for the collector of Shahabad and used as a billiard room. It gained historical importance during the Indian uprising of 1857 when, from 27 July to 3 August 1857, 18 British civilians and about 50 members of the Bengal Military Police Battalion defended the house against forces led by Veer Kunwar Singh. The successful defence until relief by Major Vincent Eyre is known as the Siege of Arrah. The building is now a centrally protected monument.

The building is a notable example of early colonial architecture in Bihar and serves as a local heritage landmark associated with the events of 1857 in the Bhojpur region. As an archaeological museum, it preserves and displays regional cultural artefacts and is visited for its educational and heritage value.