Located on the bank of the Son river, a short distance east of the historic Rohtasgarh fort, Akbarpur is the headquarters of Rohtas block.

An extant chardiwarrah-style tomb near Akbarpur bears a Persian inscription that identifies it as the tomb of one Malik Wishal Khan, a native of Chainpur, the faujdar and Qiladar of Rohtasgarh fort under Shah Jahan.

[3] During the Indian Rebellion of 1857, Akbarpur became a stronghold of the rebel leader Kunwar Singh.

In October 1858, mutineers from the Ramgarh battalion took up a position in Akbarpur after being defeated at Chatra.

At that time, it was the southern terminus of the Dehri-Rohtas Light Railway, and the ruins of an old indigo factory were noted here as well.