Rajgir,
in district Nalanda, is a great holy place of the Buddhists. It is the
ancient Rajagriha or Girivraja, the capital of the ancient kingdom of
Magadha. During the days of Mahavira and Buddha, who visited it very
often, it was a very flourishing city. It was the venue of the 1st
Buddhist Council held immediately after the Nirvana of Buddha, during
the time of king Ajatshatru.
The ruins of Rajgir,
which have been partly excavated, cover an extensive area with in and
outside the hill enclosure and include the ancient defenses and remains
of habitations, shrines, stupas and monasteries. A monastery with large
elliptical halls has been recently excavated and identified as Jeevak
Amravan, mentioned in the Buddhist texts as a favourite retreat of
Buddha.
PRIME SITES
Gridhakuta Hill:
About 10km from the
railway station is Gridhakuta (Vulture's Peak), the hill from where
Gautama Buddha delivered many sermons, after he attained enlightenment.
It was here that the Buddha delivered two important sutras - the Lotus
Sutra and the Prajnaparamita (Perfection of Wisdom Sutra).
Vishwa
Shanti Stupa:
To mark the holy spot at
the Gridhakuta Hill, there stands today the 38m high Vishwa Shanti Stupa.
The awesome modern stupa can be reached by a chairlift, a fifteen-minute
round trip offering panoramic views.
Ajatashatru's Fort:
The ruins of a fort built
by the king of Magadha, Ajatashatru, can be seen here. Built in the 6th
century, it was within these high walls that he imprisoned his father,
Bimbisara. Archaeologists have discovered the remains of Ajatshatru
Stupa, which enshinres Magadha's share of the Buddha's relics.
Lakshmi Narayan Mandir:
This pink-hued temple
stands beside the hot springs and, as the name indicates, is dedicated
to Lord Vishnu and his consort, Goddess Lakshmi.
Venuvana Vihar:
It is a Japanese shrine
where a monastery was built for the Buddha to live. It is said that king
Bimbisara as an offering to the buddha, built Venuvana or the Monastery
of the Bamboo Grove. Right next to it is the now-muddy water tank,
Karanda, in which the Buddha bathed.
Saptadhara:
Gushing from the base of
the Vaibhava Hill are the seven hot springs, called Saptadhara, that
attract the religious as well as the sick. The hottest of these sulphur
springs is the Brahmakund, where the water is a steaming 45 degrees
centigrade. It is believed that the Buddha used its waters to heal the
ill and the infirm.
EXCURSION
Pawapuri: Pawapuri is held in great reverence by the Jains as
Lord Mahavira, the founder of Jainism, was cremated here in 500BC. Jal
Mandir, the white marble temple in the middle of this lake, blooming
with beautiful lotus flowers affords a breathtakingly enchanting sight.
TRAVEL INFORMATION
HOW TO GET THERE
Air:
