Motihari, city, northwestern Bihar state, northeastern India. It is situated on the east bank of a lake, about 25 miles (40 km) southeast of Bettiah.
Motihari was constituted a municipality in 1869. A major road centre, the city trades in oilseeds and has sugar-milling and cotton-weaving industries. The city has several colleges affiliated with the B.R. Ambedkar Bihar University. Pop. (2001) 100,683; 2011 (126,158).