| About Rajgir |
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| Introduction |
| Rajgir,Rajagrihain Sanskritand Rajagaha in Pali,was the capitalof the powerful kingdom of Magadh. According to the Ramayana, it was founded by KingVasuand was called Vasumatiafter his name. |
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The name Rajagriha was applied during Buddha's time as there were many palaces around.As the powerful kingdom of Magadh, it became famous for its I wealth and grandeur. During Mahabharata,Rajagrihawas known as Girivraj, the capital of Jarasandhakingdom, as it was surrounded by five clusterof hills.
Buddhist scholar Buddhaghosha has mentioned that the city had 32 main gates and 64 minor gates.Its pop- ularitydeclined oncethe city of Pataliputra was madethe new capital of Magadh.
Rajagriha is sacred to the Hindus, Buddhists, Jainsand Muslims. Lord Mahavir spent 14 rainy seasons in Rajgir and Nalanda between 527-497 BC.He gavehis first sermon on Vipula Hill. Eachhill of Rajgiris associatedwith variousTirthankars. Therefore, there are Jaintemples on all the hills of Rajagriha.
There is a natural "kund" or pond on Vipula Hill, which is known as Makhdum Kund, named as it is after Muslim saint Makhdum Saheb,who spent 12 years in the jungles of Rajagrihain 13th century AD.
Rajagrihawas the favourite place of Lord Buddha, and became an important centre of Buddhismduring the reign of KingBimbisara(543-491 BC) and Ajatashatru(491-459 AD).Lord Buddha delivered many important sermons here. His favourite places in Rajagrihawere GriddhakutaHill and VenuVana.Thesetwo sitesare mandatoryon the itineraryof the Baudh tourist pilgrims from abroad. |
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| Places of Interest |
What to Look For ?
Vishwa Shanti Stupa |
| The Vishwa Shanti Stupa is a monument to the birth of a nation, the Republic of India. India's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru had in 1956, during the 2500th Buddha Nirvana Year, called Buddhists from all over the world. He climbed the Griddhakuta Hill. |
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Saddened by the neglected state of the holy site, he requested Japanese saint FujiGuruji to build a stupa in true Buddhist tradition as a mark of respect to the holy seat of learning. The facing peak of Ratnagiri was chosen as the stupa site. Renowned artist Upendra Maharathi designed its architecture. The foundation stone of the 160-ft-tall stupa was laid by president S Radha krishnan in 1965 and it was inaugurated by president VV Giri in 1969.
The stupa can be reached by a 2200-ft-longropeway,whichwas presented to the Bihar government by Fuji Guruji. |
| Contact Person |
G Okonogi
Nipponzan Myohoji (Japanese Temple)
Vishwa Shanti Stupa,
Rajgir (Nalanda)
E-mail: gokonogi@hotmail.com |
| Hot Springs |
Rajgir is dotted with hot springs, which were earlier spread all over. But now few are flowing. The most-visited hot spring is in the eastern slope of Vaibhava Hill. It is said earlier there was a Tapoda rivulet of hot water, in which Lord Buddha and Lord Mahavir took bath.
The hot springs are a major tourist attraction. The hot water is supposed to come from the 'Saptaparni Caves', situated on top of the hill.Brahma Kunda is the hottest spring with its water temperature being 45 degree C. Separate bathing places for men and women have been constructed.
NOTE: Bathingin hot water isgood forhealth, particularly forthose who are having joint pains. Entry is free. Washing clothes here is not allowed. |
| Griddhakuta or Vultures Peak |
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Griddhakuta or the Vultures Peak was the favourite retreat of Lord Buddha. The peak got its name either because it has a vulture-like shape or it was frequented by vultures. Dhaniya, a potter's son, is said to have made a beautiful hut at the foot of the hill for Lord Buddha. |
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| Buddha lived in a cave there for several years and preached the famous Saddharmapundarika sutra from the platform built by King Bimbisara on Griddhakuta. In Xuanzang's travelogue, it is mentioned that Bimbisara had built a road from the foothills of Griddhakuta halfway up to the hill and a staircase leading up to the peak. He would visit Buddha every day. There are remains of some brick stupas also. Inside the cave there are several Buddha statues. |
| Ashoka Stupa Peak |
| here exist the remains of a brick stupa on a hill,which many Buddhists believe was built by King Ashoka as a mark of honour to Griddhakuta. |
| Jivaka's Mango Garden |
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Jivaka, the royal physician during the times of Ajatshatru and Bimbisara, used to practise here. It is said once Lord Buddha was also brought here for treatment of a wound.
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| Swarna Bhandar |
| These are twin rock-cut caves, supposed to be the doorway to the treasury of King Bimbisara. One of the caves is said to be the guard room while the other is supposed to be the passage to king Bimbisara's treasury. The treasure, according to folklore, is still intact. |
| The Cyclopean Wall |
| The 40-km-long wall encircles ancient Rajgir. Built with massive pieces of stones, it was constructed before the Mauryan rule.
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| Jain Temples |
| There are more than 25 Jain temples around Rajgir.Situated on the hills, they are visited by those who love trekking.
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| Jarasandha's 'Baithak' |
| The large rectangular structure looking like a huge platform is situated on the Vaibhava Hill and is popularly known as King Jarasandha's Baithak or the drawing room. The Buddhist traditions refer to it as Pippala cave, a site where Buddha used to meditate. Xuanzang has also mentioned this in his travelogue. It is also believed that Lord Buddha's chief disciple MahaKashyapa lived here. |
| Saptaparni Cave |
| It is situated on the Vaibhava Hill.The First Buddhist Council was held here six months after the 'Mahaparinirvana' of Buddha. It was attended by 500 monks and headed by Buddha's chief disciple Maha Kashyapa. King Ajatashatru, the ruler of Magadh, had constructed a Sabha Mandap in front of the cave for the assembly. |
| Sonabhandara |
| In the southern scarp of Vaibhava Hill, there are two caves. They were originally double storied, on the walls of which are engraved the statues of Jain Tirthankars. In the western cave are found black stone statues of first four Tirthankars and statues of Buddha. Thiswestern cave is locally called Sonabhandara, the literal meaning of which is treasury of gold. It is believed that beyond the inner wall of the cave lay the treasury of gold.
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| Ranbhoomi or Jarasandha's Akhara |
| It was at this place that Jarasandha fought with Bhima for 28 days and eventually got killed. The raised brick platform is called Akhara. |
| Maniyar Math |
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In the middle of the valley near the main road is a beautiful structure in the shape of a stupa, sheltered under a conical corrugated iron shade. It is known as Maniyar Math, named after a small shrine which existed before the excavation of the site. It is a hollow stupa with stucco Buddha ../photos on the outer walls. Statues of Snake Goddess were found here, which is a pointer to the fact that originally there was a temple here, dedicated to snakes. The Mahabharata refers to Rajgir as the abode of Mani Naga. |
| Bimbisara Jail |
| In the southern side of Maniyar Math on the main road lie the remains of the stone walls of the prison, where Magadhan King Bimbisara was imprisoned by his son, King Ajatashatru. It is said the imprisoned king, from his prison cell, could see the Griddhakuta and could have a glimpse of lord Buddha, which gave him great solace. Unable to bear the torture inflicted by his son, Bimbisara eventually died in this prison.
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| Jivaka Ambavana or Jivakarama Vihara |
| Jivaka was the royal physician of Magadh's powerful rulers, Bimbisara and Ajatashatru. Buddhist texts narrate the tales of his surgical skills as well. He cured Bimbisara of many ailments. He was a devoted follower of Buddha and had donated his mango garden to him. A monastery was constructed at the garden. The site of the ruins of this monastery lies on way to the ropeway station, at the foothills of Griddhakuta. Buddhist records say that lord Buddha had delivereda sermon here in the presence of King Ajatashatru, moved by which Ajatashatru embraced Buddhism. |
| Mardakukshi |
| This lesser known site is situated in the jungles at the foothills of Griddhakuta Hill,a few yards away from Jivakarama Vihara. In Buddha's time, it was said to be a monastery. Asthe folklore goes,Kosala Devi, the queen of Bimbisara, was carrying a childin herwomb about whom it had been predicted that he would eventually kill his father. The distressed queen made a ailed attempt to abort the child at the present site of Mardakukshi. Some other Buddhist legends attribute the site to the place where an injured Buddha was treated by Jivaka, after Devadatta had attempted to kill him. |
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| How To Reach |
| By Air : |
Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan International Airport, Patna, 100 km away.
The road between Patna and Ragir-Nalanda-Pawapuri is in excellent condition. Private and state transport buses ply between Patna and Biharsharif, the district HQ town of Nalanda. Tempos or horse-driven carts can be hired from Biharsharif for Rajgir. Alternatively, one can hire a taxi from Patna to Rajgir-Nalanda-Pawapuri.
There's also a direct train between Delhi and Nalanda. Called Shramjeevi Express (2391 Up/2392 Dn), it runs via Patna |
| Nearest Rail Head : |
| Rajgir (on Bakhtiarpur-Rajgir rail section). |
| By Road : |
| Connected by good roads with all Indian cities. |
| Where to Stay: |
There are several hotels in and around Rajgir. Apart from hotels, tourists can opt for tourist bungalows or government-owned hotels or guest houses.
Indo-Hokke Hotel (3-star facilities), Phone: 255231, Fax: 255245
Rajgir Residency (2-star facilities), Phone: 255404, Fax: 255405
Hotel Tathagat Vihar, Phone: 255176, Fax: 255176
Hotel Siddhartha, Phone: 255216, Fax: 255352 |
| Emergency, Contact |
Nalanda District Magistrate: 235203, 235204, Fax: 235205
Nalanda Superintendent of Police: 235207, Fax: 233978
Rajgir Dy Superintendent of Police: 255461
Rajgir Police Station: 255258
Medical Emergencies, Contact
Rajgir Hospital: 255102 |
| Tourist Season
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| From October to February. From mid-December to the end of January, temperature here ranges from 5 degree C to 15 degree C. May and June are hot and the mercury goes up to 46 degree C. It's monsoon time towards the end of June. |
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