Area: 173,877 sq. Km
Population: 86.3 million
Capital: Patna
Main Languages: Hindi and Bhojpuri
Best time to visit: October to March

Bihar takes its name from the word 'vihara' meaning monastery. Bihar was a great religious centre for Jains, Hindus and most importantly, Buddhists. It's an important industrial centre with a rich variety of natural, historical and cultural values. Bihar is bounded in the north by Nepal, in the east by West Bengal, in the west by Uttar Pradesh and in the south by Madhya Pradesh and Orissa.

Like in all ancient civilizations, the earliest human settlements in India sprung up around its magnificent rivers. Few rivers of the world have moulded the culture, economy and personality of the people dwelling on their banks as the river Ganga has. Cutting straight across Bihar from west to east, the bounteous Ganga nurtured a veritable fountainhead of political and cultural civilizations, on its shores, down the millennia. Here, kingdom after kingdom rose and fell, leaving their indelible mark on history. Rival kings fought legendary battles, devastating the land and people. Yet, by some strange alchemy, the same land saw the birth of some of the most noble and progressive religious teachers like the Buddha, Mahavira and Guru Gobind Singh. Then came the Muslims, ruling with panache for five centuries, to be eliminated in turn, by the powerful British, who ruled till the middle of last century.

Bihar, today, is a quaint interface of the old and the new. The state boasts of an incredible range of mineral resources. The coal belt in Bihar is the mainstay of thermal energy in India. Bihar's modern visage sports some of India's largest steel and mining industries.

Bodhgaya
Nalanda
Patna
Rajgir
Vaishali

BODHGAYA

Bodhgaya is the most important Buddhist pilgrimage site in the world. Apart from being a significant archaeological site, it is also a vital Buddhist centre. It's the site where Buddha attained enlightenment. Devout Buddhists and tourists from all over the world visit Bodhgaya, to study Buddhism and the art of meditation, or to simply absorb the aura of solemn grandeur that surrounds the place. It is a quiet and peaceful place. Buddhists from all over the world flock to Bodhgaya, along with non-Buddhists who come to learn about Buddhism and meditation. The best time to visit is during winter when Tibetan pilgrims come down from Dharamsala. The Dalai Lama also often spends December here.

Places to See -

Mahabodhi Temple - is the focal point of Bodhgaya. It marks the spot where Buddha gained enlightenment and set out on his life of preaching. It stands adjacent to a descendent of the original Bodhi tree under which Buddha meditated on the excesses of life and formulated his philosophy of a balanced approach to it. There is a red sandstone slab under the tree that is said to be the 'Vajrasan', or diamond throne, on which Buddha sat. This temple is a place of pilgrimage for all Buddhists. Topped by a 50m high pyramid, the ornate structure houses a large gilded image of the Buddha.

Monasteries - most countries with a large Buddhist population have a temple or a monastery in Bodhgaya usually built in a representative architectural style. Thus, there is a Thai temple that looks very much like the colourful wats of Thailand. There is a Tibetan temple and monastery that contains a large prayer wheel. The Burmese who had led a campaign to restore the Mahabodhi temple in the 19th century also built their monastery. There is a Japanese temple (Indosan Nipponji) that has a very beautiful image of Buddha brought from Japan. There are also Chinese, Sri Lankan, Bhutanese, Vietnamese, Nepalese, Korean, Taiwanese and Bangladeshi monasteries. There is also a Tai Bodhi Khan monastery built by Buddhist tribes from Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.

Archaeological Museum - here has a small collection of Buddha figures, and pillars that were discovered in the area.

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NALANDA

Founded in the 5th century BC, Nalanda was one of the world's greatest universities and an important Buddhist centre until its sacking by the Afghans in the 12th century. The Chinese scholar and traveller Hiuen Tsang stayed here in the 7th century and has left an elaborate description of the excellence, and purity of monastic life practiced here. About 2,000 teachers and 10,000 students from all over the Buddhist world lived and studied in this international university.

Sites to See -

Great Stupa - is among the extensive brick-built remains here. It has steps, terraces and a few intact votive stupas around it and the monk's cells.

The Archaeological Museum - here houses the Nalanda University seal, sculptures and other remains found on the site.

Hiuen Tsang Memorial Hall - is the newest building built as a peace pagoda by the Chinese in memory of Hiuen Tsang who had spent five years here as both student and teacher.

There is also an International Centre for the Study of Buddhism that was established in 1951.

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PATNA

The capital of Bihar, an immensely fertile, arched stretch of land along the southern bank of the Ganges. The history and cultural heritage of modern day Patna, go back well over two millennia. Like Delhi, Patna too had been the regal seat of governance for successive kingdoms, since ancient times. Early in the 5th century BC, Ajatasahtru shifted his capital of the Magadha Empire from Rajgir to Patna, then called Pataliputra. Fulfilling Buddha's prophecy that a great city would arise here. For almost a 1000 years it was one of the most important cities of the subcontinent and the capital of a huge empire spanning most of ancient India under the rule of Chandragupta Maurya and Ashoka.

The city regained its political importance in the mid 16th century AD when Sher Shah made it his capital and renamed it Azimabad after defeating the Mughal emperor Humayun. Subsequently it passed to the British in 1764 after the Battle of Buxar.

Today Patna is an important business centre of eastern India. More significantly, it is a gateway to the Buddhist and Jain pilgrim centres of Vaishali, Rajgir, Nalanda, Bodhgaya etc.

Places to see -

Kumrahar Excavations - located in the south of the city, the archaeological findings in this area establish Patna's claim to over a thousand years of political glory - 491 BC to 600 AD. Very little of this grandeur remains though, except for a few pillars from the assembly hall dating back to the Mauryan period and the foundations of the brick Buddhist monastery known as Anand Bihar.

Har Mandir - located at the eastern end of the city, in the Chowk area of old Patna, is one of the holiest of the Sikh shrines. It was built by Ranjit Singh and marks the place where Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th and the last of the Sikh Gurus was born in 1660.

Golghar - is a huge beehive shaped building. It was constructed as a granary by Captain John Garstin in 1786 for the British army. The massive structure is about 25m high and the winding stairway around it offers fine views over the city and the Ganges.

Patna Museum - has an excellent collection of stone sculptures dating back to the Maurya and Gupta period, terracotta figures and archaeological findings from sites in Bihar like Nalanda. It also houses the world's longest fossilized tree - 16m and 200 million years old. There is also a fine collection of Chinese paintings and tangkas (Tibetan cloth paintings).

Khuda Baksh Oriental Library - founded in 1900, this library has a renowned collection of very rare Arabic and Persian manuscripts, Mughal and Rajput paintings and oddities like the Koran inscribed in a book only 25mm wide. The library also contains the only books to survive the sacking of the Moorish University of Cordoba in Spain.

Qila House - also known as Jalan Museum, is built on the foundations of Sher Shah's fort. It contains an impressive private collection of antiques including a dinner service that once belonged to George III, Marie Antoinette's Serves porcelain, Napoleon's four poster bed, Chinese jade and Mughal silver filigree. Please note prior permission is required for a visit.

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RAJGIR

Rajgir, known earlier as 'Rajagriha' or Girivaraja, nestles in the rocky hills that witnessed the teachings of both Buddha and Mahavira. It was the capital of the Magadha empire until Ajatashatru shifted it to Pataliputra (Patna) in the 5th century BC. It is an important Buddhist pilgrim site since Buddha spent 12 years here and the first Buddhist council after Buddha attained nirvana was held here. It's also an important place for the Jains as Mahavira, spent some of his time here and the hills are topped with Digambara (the sky clad Jain sect) shrines.

Today, Rajgir is a picturesque and serene place, visited by pilgrims from all over the globe. It has also gained recognition as a health resort due to its hot springs and healthy climate.

Places to See -

Shanti Stupa - located on top of the Ratnagiri hill, 3kms from the hot springs is reached by a chair-lift.

Ruins - the main sites include parts of the ruined city, caves and places associated with Ajatashatru and his father Bhimbisara like Ajatashatru's Fort

Griddhakuta - or the 'hills of Vultures' was one of Buddha's favourite places where he delivered some of his most famous sermons and converted King Bhimbisara of the Magadha Kingdom and countless others to creed.

Saptparni Cave - located on one of the hills is where the first Buddhist council was held immediately after Buddha attained nirvana. The Cave is also the source of Rajgir's hot water springs that have curative properties and is sacred to Hindus.

There is also a Burmese temple, an interesting Jain exhibition and a modern Japanese temple.

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VAISHALI

Set amidst lush paddy fields, 55km north of Patna, lies this quiet hamlet steeped in legend. Named after King Visala, it was the capital of the Lichhavis, and is believed to be one of the earliest republics of the world, having an elected body of representatives and an efficient administration, as early as 6th century BC. Vaishali is significant to both Buddhists and Jains. Buddha preached his last sermon here and Mahavira, one of the tirthankars (apostles) was born here. To commemorate the importance of the site, Ashoka erected one of his famous lion capital pillars.

A 100 years after the Buddha's nirvana, 700 monks from all over North India, assembled here, to discuss the points of 'vinaya', the rule of conduct, under dispute. Thus, Vaishali became the venue of the second Buddhist council. Two stupas were erected to recall this event.

Places to See -

Buddha Stupa 1 - the sacred ashes of Buddha were found enshrined in a casket here.

Buddha Stupa 2 - unearthed in 1958, it, too, contains sacred ashes.

Coronation Tank - is a huge reservoir, where the Lichhavi kings were anointed, before being crowned

Bawan Pokhar Temple - built in the Pala period, this temple enshrines several Hindu deities.

Chaumukhi Mahadeva - is a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is built of black stone, carved with four faces.

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