Ara, city, western Bihar state, northeastern India. It is situated on a tributary of the Ganges (Ganga) River, about 30 miles (50 km) west of Patna.
The city is a major rail and road junction. Agricultural trade and oilseed milling are carried on there. It is the site of several colleges affiliated with Magadh University. The Little House at Ara is a building that was defended by the British against Kunwar Singh during the Indian Mutiny in 1857–58. Ara was constituted a municipality in 1865. Pop. (2001) 203,380; (2011) 261,430.