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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. The Buddhist trail begins at the capital city, Patna, where a noteworthy museum contains a collection of Hindu and Buddhist sculptures. The Khuda Baksh Oriental Library has rare Muslim manuscripts including some from the University of Cordoba in Spain. 40 km away, Vaishali was the site for the second Buddhist Council as the presence of ruins testify. 90 km 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. It is said to have contained nine million books, with 2,000 teachers to impart knowledge to 10,000 students who came from all over the Buddhist world. Lord Buddha himself taught here and Hieun Tsang, the 7th century Chinese traveller, was a student. Ongoing excavations have uncovered temples, monasteries and lecture halls. Rajgir, ‘the royal palace’, 12 km south, 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, the hill of Gridhrakuta being perhaps the most important, as this is where the Buddha delivered most of his sermons. 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. (For those interested in the Buddhist circuit, it may be worthwhile to note that Sarnath, in Uttar Pradesh, close to Varanasi, is an important part of the circuit, and has been beautifully developed. Besides the excavated sites, a museum here houses several Buddhist icons, among them the Ashoka Lion, India’s national emblem). |
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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. Like Delhi, Patna too had been the regal seat of governance for successive kingdoms since ancient times. And to this day, it is the capital city of the state. As each ruler ascended in power and established dynastic glory, he gave his capital a new name. Thus the ancient Kusumpura metamorphosed through Pushpapura, Pataliputra, Azeemabad and now into Patna, a continuous history ranging from 6th century BC to present times – a record claimed by few cities in the world. 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 and 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 a temporary eclipse, in 16th century Sher Shah Suri returned the city to its former glory and established the present Patna. 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. TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATION :
WHAT TO SEE
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
Other places
of interest near Patna 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. TOURIST INFORMATION CENTRE
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Vaishali today is a small village surrounded by banana and mango groves and rice fields. But excavations in the area have brought to light an impressive 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 B.C. in the time of the Vajjis and the Lichhavis. And while Pataliputra, capital of the Mauryas and the Guptas, held political sway over the Gangetic plain, Vaishali was a rich centre for trade and industry.
Historically important, 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. To commemorate the event, Emperor Ashoka, in the
third century B.C. erected one of his famous lion pillars here. A
hundred years after the mahaparinirvana of the Buddha - Vaishali
hosted the second great Buddhist council. Two stupas were erected to
commemorate this event. GENERAL INFORMATION
Altitude
: 52 metres TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATION
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 (4 km). SPECIAL INSTITUTIONS 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. EXCURSIONS
Visitors must return to Patna (55 km)
to undertake any excursions they may wish to organise. INFORMATION CENTRES
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Baidyanath Dham situated in the Santhal Parganas of Bihar, is a very important piligram 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. HOW TO GET THERE
PLACES OF INTEREST AND EXCURSIONS
Baidyanath Temple;
Nandan Pahar; Naulakha Mandir; Satsang Ashram; Tapovan. MISCELLANEOUS Shopping Centres : Bihar State Handloom Emporium; Santhal Parganas Gramodyog Samittee; Santhal Parganas Khadi Gramodyog Bhavan.
Yoga Institution
: Balanand Ashram Yogashala, Karnibagh. INFORMATION CENTRE
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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. Around Gaya
Brahma -
Yoni, Ramshila, Pretishila – beautiful hills.
Deo - 20
km from Gaya, Surya temple here is the site of famous Chhath puja in
November. Kurkihar - ancient habitation with ruins. Presumed to be the
Kukkutapadagiri mentioned by Hiuen Tsang in 7th century.
Barabar caves
– 40 km from Gaya, earliest Buddhist rock cut caves. Sasaram – 123 km
from Gaya, tombs of Sher Shah Suri, his father and son. There is a
cave with Ashokan edicts and a Dargah on Chandan Pir Hill.
Pawapuri
Parasnath hill
Call of the hills
The Chotanagpur plateau is
one of the most beautiful areas in Bihar. Studded with hills 300 –
900m in altitude and covered with verdant virgin forests, this area of
rivers, lakes, meadows and valleys is an ideal retreat of peace and
beauty. Rich in wildlife, these forests are an anthropologist’s
delight, since the ancient lifestyle of the tribes like Santhal, Ho,
Munda, Oraon, Koi, Chero, Kharia, Paharia has remained essentially
unaltered.
Ranchi
Hazaribagh
Netarhat
Palamau
Jamshedpur
Damodar Valley
Dhanbad
Bhagalpur
Monghyr
How to get there
Gaya is an important
railway junction. There are bus services from all important towns of
Bihar. Where to stay Many dharamshalas, modest hotels and rest house are available. |
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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 once lived here" Lord Buddha the gentle colossus who founded the first universal religion of the world, worked and lived much of his life in Bihar though he was born in Kapilavastu, now in Nepal. Most of the major events of his life, like enlightenment and last sermon happened in Bihar. Significantly. the state’s name originated from ’Vihara’ meaning Buddhist and Jain monasteries, which abounded in Bihar. Though the Buddha was born as a Sakya prince in the Terai foothills of the Himalayas, Buddhism as a religion was really born in Bihar and evolved here through his preaching and the example of his lifestyle of great simplicity, renunciation and empathy for everything living. Perhaps the present day life of trauma and tension reminds us of the other alternative that was always available to us, the Buddha’s way of life, gentle and simple.
Several centuries after
Buddha’s passing away, the Maurya emperor Ashoka (234-198 BC)
contributed tremendously towards the revival, consolidation and spread
of the original religion. It is the monasteries Ashoka built for the
Buddhist monks and the pillars erected to commemorate innumerable
historical sites associated with the Buddha’s life, mostly intact to
this day, that helped scholars and pilgrims alike to trace the life
events and preachings of a truly extraordinary man. The Buddha attained enlightenment in Bodhgaya, under the Bodhi tree, 10 km from Gaya. the ancient Hindu pilgrimage centre. The tree from the original sapling still stands in the temple premises. It is the most important Buddhist pilgrimage centre as Buddhisrn was born here. The 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. It is perhaps still the same temple Hiuen Tsang visited in 7th century.
Altitude
: 113 metres TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATION :
PLACES OF INTEREST Mahabodhi Temple, Animeshlocan Chaiyata, Mohanta's Monastery, Ratnagar, Archaeological Museum, Tbetan Monastery, Thai Temple & Monastery, International Buddhist House & Japanese Temple, Buddhist Monastery of Bhutan, The Burmese Temple, The Chinese Temple & Monastery. EXCURSIONS
Dungeshwari 12 km,
Muchalinda Lake 3 km, Gaya 12 km, Majadha University 3.2 km. TOURIST INFORMATION CENTRES
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Founded in the 5th
centuary 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 Ahoka built many
monastries, temples and Viharas here. Though the Buddha visited Nalanda several times during his lifetime, this famous centre of Buddhist learning shot to fame much later, during 5th-12th centuries. 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 who built temples and monasteries here. Recent excavations have unearthed elaborate structures here. Hiuen Tsang had left ecstatic accounts of both the ambiance and architecture of this unique university of ancient times. 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, 2 km away has a sun temple, famous for Chhath puja. To be visited are Nalanda museum & Nava Nalanda Mahavihar in addition to the great ruins.
Altitude
: 67 metres. TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATION :
WHAT TO SEE
Hieun Tsang Memorial Hall, The
Nalanda University Complex, Swarajpur Baragon. The Nalanda Museum
(Opens 1000 to 1700 hours. Closed on Friday.)
Lauria Areraj
Lauria Nandangarh
EXCURSION Bihar Sharif 13 kms, Gaya 65 kms, Bodh Gaya 50 kms, Rajgir 12 kms. |
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46 kms from Bodhgaya, Rajgir is sacred to the memory of the founders of both Buddhism and Jainism. Rajgir today is vestiges of a legendary and historical remains like the cyclopean wall and the marks engraved in rocks.
Rajagriha in Patna
district was the ancient capital city of the Magadha kings. The Buddha
often came here to retreat at the Jivkamaravana monastery in a
beautiful orchard. One of his most devoted and prosperous devotees,
surgeon Jivaka also lived here. The rich merchant community here soon
became the Buddha’s followers and built many structures of typical
Buddhist architecture. The Buddha converted the Mauryan king Bimbisara,
one of his most celebrated followers at the Griddhakuta hill, where he
delivered many of his sermons as well. The Japanese have built a Stupa
on top of the Ratnagiri hill, linked by a ropeway. After the Buddha
reached ’parinirvana’ his followers met at the Saptaparni cave in
Rajagriha, the first Buddhist Council ever held. It was here that the
teachings of the Buddha were penned down for the first time. Rajgir is
also an important place of pilgrimage for the Hindus and Jains. Other
places to be visited are Bimbisara ka jail, Jarasandha ka akhara,
Venuvana, Karand tank, Maniyar math, Swamabhandar cave, Pippala cave,
Viswa Shanti Stupa, the famous hot water springs and ruins of an old
fort. TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATION :
PLACES OF INTEREST Ajatashatur's Fort, Amaravana (Mango Garden), Venuban, Bimbisara's Jail, Swarna Bhandar, Cyclopean Wall, Griddhakuta (Vulture's Peak), Saptparni Cave, Pippala Cave (Watch Tower), Jain temples, Karnada Tank, Maniyar Math. EXCURSIONS Bihar Sharif- 25 kms, Nalanda- 12 kms, Sawarajpur Baragaon, Gaya- 34 kms, Bodh Gaya- 50 kms, Kundalpurr- 18 kms. Pawapuri : 38 kms. Pawapuri is also known as Apapuri, is a sacred Jain pilgrim centre. Jalmandir, a marble temple in the centre of a big lotus tank, is the biggest attraction here. Other places of interest here are Samosaran and Naya mandir. It was here thet Mahavir delivered his last sermon and was also cremated. |
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Ranchi is picturesquely situated in the valley of Chotanagpur at an altitude of 2140 feet (654.5 metres) above sea level. It is well known for its scenic attractions waterfalls, salubrious climate, glades, barren rocks and verdant hillocks. It has a number of industrial field. Ranchi is also a central place for the study of tribal ways of life.
Temperature
(deg C) : Summer- Max 37.2, Min 20.6; Winter- Max 22.3, Min 10.3. TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATION :
PLACES OF INTEREST
Ranchi Hill, Tagore Hill (Moradabad
Hill) 4 kms, Kanke Dam 4 kms, Ranchi Lake, Tribal Research Institute &
Museum, Heavy Engineering 11 km, Hatia Dam 12 kms, Jagannath Temple 10
kms, Mental Hospital 9 kms.
Hundru Falls (320 ft.) 45 kms, Johna
Falls (140 ft.) 40 kms, Dassamghagh Falls (144 ft.) 34 kms, Hirni
Falls 75 kms, Netarhat 156 kms. TOURIST INFORMATION
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Nestling in low hilly
terrain, at an average altitude of 1800 ft. (615 metres) this 183.89
sq. kms National Park has an abundance of wild animals, i.e. wild
Boar, Sambar, Nilgai, Chital, Sloth Bear, tiger and Panthar. The 1970
census has established the presence of 14 tigers, 25 Panthers and 400
Sambars. GENERAL INFORMATION
Area of the park
: HOW TO GET THERE
TOUR IN THE PARK
Trip to the park starts at
1700 hours from the Divisional Forest Office, West Division,
Hazaribagh and it ends at 2200 hours. Rs.50 per head. EXCURSIONS Canari Hill (5 kms) : Cycle Rickshaws available from the Hazaribagh town. Rajrappa Falls (89 kms) : State Transport Bus operates daily an early morning service to this place from the town.
Suraj Kund (72 kms) :
Hot spring. Buses are available from the town. TOURIST INFORMATION
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Palamau has the
distinction of being the forest where the world's first tiger census
was enumerated in 1932. Large herds of Gaur & Chital are commonly
seen. Elephants are present mostly after the monsoons upto the time
when the water holes begin to dry up in March. Tiger, Panther, Sloth
Bear, Wild Bear, Sambar, Nilgai, Deer are also permanent residents.
Palamau National Park is now a part of one of nine tiger reserves in
India under "Project Tiger". GENERAL INFORMATION
Area :
Total Area- 1026 sq.km., Buffer Zone- 813 sq.km., Core Area- 213 sq.km.,
Tourist Zone- 35 sq.km. TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATION :
CONDUCTED TOUR
There are no regular tour but trip to
sanctuary by jeep can be arranged, from the Director Tiger Project
(Jail Compound) Daltonganj, Palamau, Tel: 350. Charges for jeep is
Rs.10 per km. and entry fee Rs.100 (Capacity 6-8 person).Spotlights &
guide are provided with the jeep. Charges for spotlight is Rs.25.
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Dhanbad is one of the most
important industrial centres in India. In and around Dhanbad is the
richest mineral wealth of India. GENERAL INFORMATION
Temperature
(deg C) : Summer Max- 22, Min- 08; Winter Max- 44, Min- 22. HOW TO REACH
WHAT TO SEE
Central Mining Research
Station; Central Fuel Reaserch Institute; Directorate General of Mines
Safety; Mining College. EXCURSIONS The collieries, various technical institutions and research centres of high order, attractives neighbourhood and the landscapes are the attractions of this industrial city.
TOURIST INFORMATION
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Galudih lies in small hills and
attracts the tourist for its natural beauty with calm and quiet
atmosphare. In the rainy season the hills, the jungles, the
agricultural lands make Galudih green. Though the best season is July
to March but actually tourist can visit Galudih throughout the year. TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATION :
PLACES OF INTEREST Suvarnarekha River : Suvarnarekha means the golden line. One can easily make a morning-walk using station-side road to reach the river. Barrage on the river is also an another attraction here. But the most interesting venture here is to cross the river by bullock-cart to reach the hilly village other bank of the river.
Satgurum : 15 kms
towards the north-side of the tourist lodge its an another river here.
Seven streams of the river encircle seven separate hills seven times,
hence the river is named as Satgurum. Trecking to the hills through
the jungle-path full of unknown trees and flowers are the best
attraction here. Elephants may also be seen in the jungles. EXCURSIONS Tatanagar, Dimna Lake (Tatanagar), Jubili Park (Tatanagar), Burudihi Lake, Dharagiri, Jadugorar Jungle, Devi Rakshkhini Temple, Copper Mines, Ghatshila. |
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32 kms from Madhupur,
Giridh is now a District Town of Bihar. Regular Buses connect Giridh
with Munger, Dhanbad, Bhagalpur, Koderma and other places. Usri falls
is only 11 kms away from Giridh. Tongas are available as the main
local transport here. MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATIONS
Restaurants
: Khalsa Hindu Hotel, Lakshmi Hotel, Sinha Hotel, Nandan Hotel, Padam
Hotel. |
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This is the place where the foundation of Indian Steel Industry was laid in the end of the last century. Late Jamshedji was the founder of this city who founded Tata Iron and Steel Company at this site. This city is named after the founder and has two names Jamshedpur & Tatanagar. It is heavily industrialized but very clean and modern.
Climate
: Tropical Max 46.7 C, Min 6.1 C. TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATION : |
