Nalanda District
Nalanda is about 16 kilometres (10 mi) north of the city of Rajgir and about 90 kilometres (56 mi) southeast of Patna, connected via NH 31, 20 and 120 to India's highway network.[6] It is about 80 kilometres (50 mi) northeast of Bodh Gaya – another important Buddhist site in Bihar. The Nalanda archaeological site is spread over a large area to the northwest of Bargaon (Nalanda) village, and is between the historical manmade lakes Gidhi, Panashokar and Indrapuskarani. On the south bank of the Indrapushkarani lake is the Nava Nalanda Mahavihara – a university founded in its memory.
Griddhakuta Peak
Vulture Peak Mountain is, by tradition, one of several sites frequented by the Buddha and his community of disciples for both training and retreat. Its location is frequently mentioned in Buddhist texts in the Pāli Canon of Theravada Buddhism[1][2] and in the Mahayana sutras as the place where the Buddha gave certain sermons. Among the sermons are the Heart Sutra, the Lotus Sutra and the Śūraṅgama Samādhi Sūtra as well as many prajnaparamita sutras
Pandu Pokhar
To get a better understanding of what Pandu Pokhar is, imagine an amusement park, but in a natural environment. It is located at Rajgir – a place sacred to Buddhism and Jainism. It is believed that Lord Buddha spent many months of retreat, meditating and preaching at Rajgir. Lord Mahavira also spent fourteen years of his life at Rajgir and Nalanda. RAJGIR- the ancient capital of the MAGADHA kings was then called “RAJGRIHA” meaning “the home of royalty. Rajgir also had its presence during the Ramayana era where it was known by the name of “VASUMATI”.The epic MAHABHARATA calls it “GIRIVRAJ”, the capital city of king JARASANDH who is said to have been split into two halves by BHEEM, the second son of KING PANDU, in a wrestling combat between them. RAJGIR enjoyed the status of a capital city during the reign of king BIMBISARA also who was one of the most powerful king of north India then.
Rajgir Hot Springs
Rajgir city is famous for the seven hot springs or Saptarshi, which come and mingle together into a big pool of warm water, named Brahmakund. This is a holy place for bathing of the Hindus, Buddhists and Jains alike. The water is said to contain medicinal properties and healing features, and was visited by the likes of Gautam Buddha and Mahavira.
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Hieun Tsang Memorial Hall
Located near the ruins of the ancient Nalanda University, this Hall is in memory of Chinese scholar and traveller Hiuen Tsang.
A memorial has been built and named after the Chinese traveler and scholar monk, Xuanzang, who was a student at Nalanda and subsequently became a teacher at the ancient Nalanda Mahavihara. The magnificent hall is located barely 1.3 km away from the ruins of Nalanda.
Veerayatan Museum
Opened in 1982, Veerayatan Museum or the Kala Mandir is one of the prominent tourist places to visit in Rajgir. It has been dedicated to Jainism and exhibits several artefacts and homemade objects representing the teachings and lives of the 24 Tirthankaras of Jainism. Due to its location in the foothills of the Vaibhav Giri hills, the museum has a very peaceful and serene atmosphere.
You can see more than 50 three-dimensional models of the lives and teachings of Tirthankaras, all created with metals and wood. All the artistic handmade representations showcased here are designed by Acharya Shri Chandanaji. You can also visit the frequent exhibition of the artwork of Acharya Shri Ji, which is held inside the museum. You can also learn about the history, significance, preachings, and popularity of the Jain religion through the exhibits.
The Son Bhandar Caves
The Son Bhandar Caves (also known as the Swarn Bhandar Caves) are two man-made caves carved into the base of the Vaibhar Hills in Rajgir in the state of Bihar in India.[1] Based on the dedicatory inscription found in the largest cave — which uses Gupta script of the 4th century CE — the caves are generally dated to the 3rd or 4th century CE, although some authors have suggested the caves could actually go back to the period of the Maurya Empire, possibly as early as 319 BCE.[2][3] The main cave is rectangular with a trapezoidal entrance and a vaulted ceiling, reminiscent of the structure of the earlier Barabar Caves. The quality of the polish and the finish are nevertheless much inferior to that of the Barabar Caves. The stone of Son Bhandar is also much less hard than the granite of the Barabar caves, and therefore did not require the same degree of effort and technique.
Vishwa Shanti Stupa
Vishwa Shanti Stupa (English: World Peace Stupa) is a large white Peace Pagoda in Rajgir, Nalanda District, Bihar, near Gitai Mandir. Statues of the Buddha are mounted on the stupa in four directions. It also has a small Japanese Buddhist temple with a large park. There is a temple near the stupa where prayers are conducted for universal peace. The initial pagoda was completed in 1969. New initiatives in 1993[1] resulted in the present form. It is one of around 80 Peace Pagodas which have been built around the world by the neo-Buddhist organisation Nipponzan Myohoji.[2] These were a dream of Nichidatsu Fujii, inspired by Mohandas K. Gandhi, as a reaction to the atomic bombing of Japan, the first, and more well known Vishwa Shanti stupa, being built on Ratnagiri Hill in Rajgir.
venu vana kalandakanivapa
The Venu Vana Kalandakanivapa is a perfect place to spend some time amidst nature and serenity. People believe that this VAN used to serve as the green house of King Bimbisara. The name Venu Vana literally means bamboo park. To visit in this park is a Buddhist Monastery, which is believed to be built by Bimbisara in honor of Lord Buddha. The place also houses a pond named Kalandakanivapa, meaning feeding ground of squirrels or jays.
Saptaparni Cave
Saptparni Cave, also referred to as Sapta parni guha or sattapaṇṇi guhā, literally Seven-leaves-cave, is a Buddhist cave site about 2 kilometres southwest from Rajgir, Bihar, India. It is embedded in a hill. The Saptaparni Cave is important in the Buddhist tradition, because many believe it to be the site in which Buddha spent some time before his death, and where the first Buddhist council was held after Buddha died. It is here that a council of few hundred monks decided to appoint Ananda, Buddha's cousin, and Upali, who had accompanied the Buddha when he gave sermons in north India, to compose Buddha's teachings for the future generations. This was of special importance because the Buddha never wrote down his teachings. After the meeting in Saptaparni Cave, Ananda created an oral tradition of Buddha's teaching from his memory, prefacing it with "Thus have I heard on one occasion". Upali is credited with reciting the Vinaya, or "rules for the Bhikshus". This tradition is found in Vinaya Pitaka II.284 through II.287 and Digha Nikaya II.154
Rajgir Wildlife Safari
The Rajgir Zoo Safari or Rajgir Wildlife Safari is a Wildlife safari located in Rajgir, Bihar, India, was opened to public on 16 February 2022. The zoo safari has been developed by the Department of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Govt of Bihar at a cost of nearly ₹177 crore. The zoo safari is spread over 191 hectares and has five zones namely Herbivore Safari, Bear Safari, Leopard Safari, Tiger Safari and Lion Safari which accommodate over 250 herbivores and carnivores. The main wild animal species includes Chital, Sambar, Black buck, Hog Deer, Barking Deer, Wild Boar, Sloth Bear, Indian Leopard, Royal Bengal Tiger and Asiatic Lion Considered to be one of its kind, the Zoo Safari is blessed with natural forest varying from large grasslands and Bamboo thickets to dense Sal Forest. Visitors can also enjoy seeing variety of bird and butterfly species here. One can see different water birds like Kingfishers, cormorants in the natural ponds present in the safari. Apart from watching wild animals in forest, efforts has been taken to sensitize the visitors about wildlife and their conservation. Ome of its main attraction is a selfie point with life-size wild animal statues
Rajgir Kundalpur
The Digambar sect of Jains believes that the 24th and the last Tirthankar, Lord Mahavir, was born here
Just 1.6 km from the ruins of Nalanda is this place called Kundalpur. The Digambar sect of Jains believes that the 24th and the last Tirthankar, Lord Mahavir, was born here. There are many Jain temples in this village.
As the place is situated in the vicinity of the ancient city of Rajgir, it is one of the popular destinations of pilgrims as well as travelers. The present temple was however was recently built. The images of 72 Jinas are displayed for offerings in a separate building.
The Temple has good accommodation facilities for devotees
Rajgir Pavapuri
“Jal Mandir” located in Pawapuri, near Rajgir and Bodh Gaya, Pawapuri is a city located in Nalanda district of Bihar province of India. It is a very holy city for the followers of Jainism as Lord Mahavira is believed to have attained salvation here. The beauty of the water temple here is made just by looking at it.
Rajgir Makhdum Kund
Makhdum Kund is one of the locations in Rajgir which is popular among the Muslim devotees for religious and spiritual purposes. It is a Muslim shrine and also a hot spring near the Vipula Hills. The Hot Springs are named after the Muslim Saint Makhdum Saheb. According to local legends he spent twelve years in the jungles of Rajgir near this region during the 13th century. The hottest spring has a temperature of over 450 degrees Celcius. There are separate areas for men and women to bathe, where the temperature is fitting.
Jarasandha Ka Akhara, Rajgir
Jarasandha Ka Akhara, located near the Vaibhava Hill, was previously a wrestling arena and place for martial arts training for the armies which stood against Lord Krishna and the Yadava clan for King Jarasandha of Magadha. The great battle between Bheema and Jarasandha took place right here. The battle lasted for a month, according to legend, and in the end Bheem tore Jarasandha's body into half to defeat and kill him. Now a deserted ruins with overgrown flora, it is a favourite spot for picnickers.
Ajatshatru Fort, Rajgir
The Ajatshatru Fort is a marvel that dates back to thousands of years. It is believed that it was built after its namesake, Emperor Ajatshatru, in the time of the Buddha. It is a favourite for the enthusiasts of history and scholars. It also serves as the perfect spot for photographers to preserve a glimpse of very well-preserved history.
Ghora Katora Lake, Rajgir
Ghora Katora Lake is a beautiful spot near Rajgir. It is said that the horses of the kings of Rajgir used to drink water here. The shape of the lake resembles that of a horse and the lake is surrounded by mountains on three of the sides. It is located near World Peace Pagoda. Surrounded by hills, the lake looks picturesque and makes for an ideal trip. Horse carts or tongas and bicycles help tourists reach them. One can enjoy boating here. It is a very relaxing place and all one can hear is the sound of wind and water.
Chariot Wheel Marks, Rajgir
Located near the Jarasandha monuments, the Chariot Wheel Marks can be described as thirty feet long and deep marks on the rocks. As per the folklore, these Chariot Wheel Marks were made by the Chariot of Lord Krishna from the time when he came to Rajgir during the Mahabharata times. It is believed that the marks were made due to the power and high speed of the Chariot.
Here you can also see the engravings made around the Chariot Wheel Marks, also known as the Chariot Route Marks, making this unique spot one of the popular places to visit in Rajgir. The language of the engraved script is still unknown to historians and is estimated to belong to a time between the 1st century AD and the 5th century AD.
Maniyar Math, Rajgir
At a distance of 4 km from Rajgir Railway Station, Maniyar Math is a historic and religious place located in Rajgir, Bihar. Situated on the way to Bimbisara Jail, it is one of the important places to visit in Rajgir.
Located almost at the center of the old city of Rajgriha, the ancient site of Maniyar Math may be identified with the name Manimala Chaitya mentioned in Pali Texts or the shrine of Mani - Naga referred to in Mahabharata. The main attraction here is a well-like structure made of 1.2m thick wall with a diameter of 3 m. The exterior provides niches containing 0.6 m high stucco images of a linga decorated with garland, four-armed Vishnu, Nagi image, Ganesha twisted with snakes around his body, and six-armed dancing Shiva.
Unfortunately, most of the images have now disappeared from their art-style belongs to the Gupta period. The minor structures such as alter platform and shrines etc, seem to be constructed for the religious and ritual purpose related to serpent worship.
Rajgir CycleRope, Rajgir
Said to be the oldest ropeway in India, the Rajgir ropeway line is a wonderful excursion in the cradle of nature. It is the only ropeway in existence in the state of Bihar. The single person seater rope line is a thrilling adventure that leads you all the way to the top of the scenic Ratnagiri Hill which houses the famous Vishwa Shanti Stupa, also known as the Peace Pagoda. The chairlift ropeway rises to a height of over 1000 feet from the ground level and is a thrilling ride to undertake. The area falls under the Pant Wildlife Sanctuary which provides unmatched views of the surrounding forest area. The ropeway gives access to the Buddhist memorabilia and constructions of a bygone era on the hilltop, coupled with picturesque views, there's nothing more you can ask for!
Rajgir Rope Way
Said to be the oldest ropeway in India, the Rajgir ropeway line is a wonderful excursion in the cradle of nature. It is the only ropeway in existence in the state of Bihar. The single person seater rope line is a thrilling adventure that leads you all the way to the top of the scenic Ratnagiri Hill which houses the famous Vishwa Shanti Stupa, also known as the Peace Pagoda. The chairlift ropeway rises to a height of over 1000 feet from the ground level and is a thrilling ride to undertake. The area falls under the Pant Wildlife Sanctuary which provides unmatched views of the surrounding forest area. The ropeway gives access to the Buddhist memorabilia and constructions of a bygone era on the hilltop, coupled with picturesque views, there's nothing more you can ask for!
Nature Safari, Rajgir
Are you a thrill seeker? If yes, then simply looking at images of many glass bridges might have sent your heart racing. However, you won't have to travel anywhere to experience such adventure, because our own country has one.
The first Glass sky walk of the country is opened in Bihar's Rajgir Forest, in a bid to attract both local and international tourists. Along with this, the state-of-the-art suspension bridge is also opened to the general public. The nature safari spread over an area around 500 hectare, is located in Rajgir- Jethian Path between the Vaibhagiri and Songiri mountain in the forest area. Adventure lovers can enjoy the zip lining or flying fox activities, Sky biking and various recreational activities at Nature Safari. The Nature Safari, boasting of a variety of flora and fauna has already been recognized.