It was established in 1870 as a subdivision of Munger district. In 1972, it was given district status. The name of the district apparently comes from Begu, a man who looked after Sarai, an old and small market in the district.
Begusarai, as early as the 70s, represented all that could be possibly wrong with the planned economy model.
The Begusarai that I left in my early adulthood was dirty and unhygienic, had no civic infrastructure, was mostly without electricity and water, and was unsafe.
The ditches in Begusarai overflow with refuse, spreading disease and stench with impunity.