Arwal town is the administrative headquarters of Arwal district in Bihar state of India. It was earlier part of Jehanabad district. The district as formed to control the naxalism in the area. District was formed from the area of two near by districts i.e. Jehanabad and Aurangabad. Arwal has a population of 588,000. Arwal, the district headquarters is approximately 80 km south from the state capital Patna. Arwal town is situated on the right side bank of the Sone River, which is a tributary to the Ganges.

Sone River, also spelt Son River, is a perennial river located in central India. It originates near Amarkantak Hill in Pendra, Chhattisgarh and finally merges with the Ganga river near Maner in Patna, Bihar. The Sone River is the second-largest southern tributary of the Ganges after the Yamuna River. India's oldest river bridge Koilwar Bridge over Sone River connects Arrah with Patna. Sone river is famous for its sand across country. Multiple dam(s) and hydro-electric projects run on its course towards Ganges.