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Bihar |
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Of all India’s states, Bihar is the one most
intimately linked to the Buddha’s life,
resulting in a trail of pilgrimages which
have come to be known as the Buddhist
circuit. The very name Bihar is derived from
the world ’vihara’, which means Buddhist
monastery. |
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The Buddhist trail begins at the capital
city, Patna, where a noteworthy
museum contains a collection of Hindu and
Buddhist sculptures. To the south of Patna
is Nalanda which translates as ’the place
that confers the lotus’ (of spiritual
knowledge). A monastic university flourished
here from the 5th to the 11th century.
Rajgir, ‘the royal palace’, was the venue
for the first Buddhist Council. The Buddha
spent five years at Rajgir after having
attained enlightenment, and many of the
remains at Rajgir commemorate various
incidents. Bodhgaya is the spot where Lord
Buddha attained enlightenment, with the
Mahabodhi Temple marking the precise
location. Bihar’s Buddhist circuit has
modest back-up facilities by way of
accommodation, international dining and
surface transport. |
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Patna |
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Patna once called Pataliputra the capital of
Bihar, is among the world's oldest capital
cities with unbroken history of many
centuries as imperial metropolis. A very
fertile arched stretch of land along the
bank of the Ganga, the history and heritage
of modern day Patna go back well over two
millennia. It was Ajatshatru the Magadha
king who first built a small fort in
Pataligram on the bank of the Ganga in 6th
century BC, which later blossomed into the
ancient glory still to be seen in the
neighbouring archaeological sites at
Kumrahar. Bhiknapahari, Agamkuan, Bulandi
Bagh |
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Kankar Bagh. Pataliputra dominated the
political fortunes of the whole of north
India between 6th century BC and 5th century
AD, a fact established by archaeological
excavations. After the decline of the
Mughals, the British too found Patna a
convenient regional capital and built a
modern extension to this ancient city and
called it Bankipore. It was in Gandhi Maidan
in this area that Mahatma Gandhi held his
prayer meetings. |
Altitude: 53 metres.
Temperature (degree C):
Summer- Max. 43, Min. 21. Winter - Max. 20,
Min. 6. Rainfall: 120 cms.
Clothing: Summer- Cottons,
Winter- Heavy Woolens. Best Season:
October to March. |
Places Of Interest:
Kumrahar, Golghar, Har Mandir Takht,
Martyrs’ memorial, Pathar ki Masjid, Sher
Shah Suri Masjid, Khuda Baksh Oriental
Library, Patna museum, Jalan museum, Sadaqat
Ashram, Maner, Padri ki Haveli, Biological
Park, Patna Yoga Vidyalaya, Quila House
(Museum), Laxmi Narayan Temple,
Pathar-Ki-Masjid, Sanjay Gandhi Biological
Park, Rajendra Museum, Gandhi Museum. |
Excursions:
Maner- 29 kms, Sasaram- 148 kms, Sonepur- 25
kms, Vaishali- 56 kms, Nalanda- 90 kms,
Rajgir- 102 kms, Gaya- 174 kms, Bodhgaya-
179 kms. |
Reach -
By Air: Connected with Bombay,
Calcutta, Delhi, Lucknow, Ranchi.
By Rail: Connected to Bombay,
Calcutta, Guwahati, Ranchi, Varanasi.
By Road: Nalanda- 90 kms, Rajgir- 102
kms, Pawapuri- 90 kms, Gaya- 172 kms,
Bodhgaya- 179 kms, Raxaul- 210 kms, Ranchi-
335 kms, Muzzafarpur- 72 kms, Sasaram- 152
kms, Vaishali- 56 kms, Calcutta- 653 kms,
Delhi- 997 kms.
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Vaishali |
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Vaishali today is a small village known for
its historical past. The epic Ramayana tells
the story of the heroic King Vishal who
ruled here. Historians maintain that one of
the world's first democratic republics with
an elected assembly of representatives
flourished here in the 6th century.
Vaishali, on the left bank of the Gandak
river, is spiritually supreme : Lord Buddha
visited this place frequently and at Kolhua,
close by, preached his last sermon. One of
the famous lion pillars have been erected
here by Emperor Ashoka. A hundred years
after the |
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Mahaparinirvana of the Buddha - Vaishali
hosted the second great Buddhist council.
Jainism, too, has its origins in Vaishali,
for in 527 B.C., Lord Mahavir was born here
and lived in Vaishali till he was 22.
Vaishali is then twice blessed and remains
an important pilgrim centre for both
Buddhists and Jains and other religions
also. |
Altitude: 52 metres.
Temperature: (Max./Min.)
Summer 44 Deg C/21 Deg C. Winter 23 Deg C/6
Deg C. Rainfall: 120 cms.
Best Season: October to
March. |
Places Of Interest:
Ashoka Pillar at Kolhua, Buddha Stupa I,
Buddha Stupa II, Raja Vishal Ka Ghar,
Coronation Tank, Museum, Bawan Pokhar Temple
and Harikatora Temple, Miranji Ka Durgah,
Kundupur. |
Excursions:
The Jain Prakrit Institute offers a place of
study for researchers interested in
Jainology an Prakrit, one of the spoken
languages of Northern India in ancient
times. |
Reach -
By Air: Nearest airport is Patna,
connected to Bombay, Calcutta, Delhi, Ranchi
and Lucknow.
By Rail: Nearest railhead is Hajipur.
By Road: Patna- 55 kms, Muzaffarpur-
36 kms and Hajipur- 35 kms. |
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Baidyanath
Dham (Deoghar) |
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Baidyanath Dham situated in the Santhal
Parganas of Bihar, is a very important
pilgrim Centre. It's famous for the Hindus
for the temple of Shiva-Baidyanath and the
place is a popular holiday Centre. |
Temperature (deg C):
Summer- Max 36.9, Min 23. Winter - Max 27.7,
Min 7.4. Best Season:
October to February. |
Places Of Interest & Excursions:
Baidyanath Temple, Nandan Pahar, Naulakha
Mandir, Satsang Ashram, Tapovan, Basakinath
Temple, Harila Joria, Trikut, Bihar State
Handloom Emporium, Santhal Parganas
Gramodyog Samittee, Santhal Parganas Khadi
Gramodyog Bhavan, Balanand Ashram Yogashala,
Karnibagh. |
Reach -
By Air: Nearest Railway Station is
Baidyanath Dham (Deoghar) which is a
terminal station of a 7 kms branch line
originating from Jasidih Jn.
By Rail: Calcutta- 373 kms, Giridih-
112 kms, Patna- 281 kms, Dumka- 67 kms,
Madhupur- 57 kms, Shimultala- 53 kms.
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Gaya |
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Bihar has some of the most sacred Buddhist
and Hindu shrines. Gaya is one of the most
important pilgrimage places for the Hindus.
It is believed that a Hindu will reach
heaven if his last rites are offered under
the celebrated ’Akshayabat’ or immortal
banyan tree, standing in the yard of
Vishnupad temple. Believed to be built on
the footsteps of Vishnu, the grand temple
was renovated by Ahalyabai, queen of Indore. |
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Excursions: Brahma, Deo, Barabar caves,
Pawapuri, Parasnath hill, Call of the hills,
Ranchi, Hazaribagh, Netarhat, Palamau,
Jamshedpur, Damodar Valley, Dhanbad,
Bhagalpur, Monghyr. |
Reach - Gaya is an important railway
junction. |
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Bodhgaya |
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Bodhgaya is one of the sacred places for the
Buddhists as well as for the Hindus. Here
under the Bodhi Tree, Gautama attained
supreme knowledge to become Budhha, the
`Enlighted One'. The Buddha attained
enlightenment in Bodhgaya, under the Bodhi
tree which still stands in the temple
premises. |
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magnificent Mahabodhi temple
in Bodhgaya is an architectural amalgamation
of many centuries cultures and many
heritages that came to pay their homage
here. The temple definitely has architecture
of the Gupta and later ages, inscriptions
describing visits of pilgrims from Sri
Lanka, Myanmar and China between 7th and
10th century AD. |
| Altitude: 113 metres.
Climate (deg c): Summer-
Max.47, Min.28. Winter- Max.28, Min.4.
Rainfall: 186 cms ( Mid.
June to Mid. September ). Best
Season: October to March. |
Places Of Interest:
Mahabodhi Temple, Animeshlocan Chaiyata,
Mohanta's Monastery, Ratnagar,
Archaeological Museum, Tibetan Monastery,
Thai Temple & Monastery, International
Buddhist House & Japanese Temple, Buddhist
Monastery of Bhutan, The Burmese Temple, The
Chinese Temple & Monastery. |
Excursions:
Dungeshwari- 12 kms, Muchalinda Lake- 3 kms,
Gaya- 12 kms, Majadha University- 3.2 kms. |
Reach -
By Air: Nearest airport is Gaya- 12
kms. Patna is connected to Bombay, Calcutta,
Delhi, Ranchi & Lucknow.
By Rail: The nearest railhead is
Gaya- 12 kms.
By Road: Gaya- 12 kms, Nalanda- 62
kms, Rajgir- 46 kms, Patna- 152 kms,
Varanasi- 215 kms, Calcutta- 482 kms.
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Nalanda |
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Founded in the 5th century A.D. Nalanda is
known as the ancient seat of learning.
World's most ancient University lies in
ruins which is 62 kms from Bodhgaya and 90
kms south of Patna. Emperor Ashoka built
many monasteries, temples and Viharas here.
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Hiuen Tsang stayed here in 7th century and
has left detailed description of the
excellence of education and purity of
monastic life practiced here. In this first
residential international university of the
world, 2,000 teachers and 10,000 students
from all over the Buddhist world lived and
studied here. The Gupta kings
patronised these monasteries, built in old
Kushan architectural style, in a row of
cells around a courtyard. Ashoka and
Harshavardhana were some of its most
celebrated patrons. An international Centre
for Buddhist Studies was established here in
1951. Nearby is Bihar Sharif, where an
annual urs is celebrated at the Dargah or
tomb of Malik Ibrahim Baya. Baragaon, The
Sun temple is famous for Chhath puja. |
| Altitude: 67 metres.
Temperature (deg C):
Summer- Max. 37.8, Min. 17.8. Winter-
Max.27.8, Min.10.6. |
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