| FACTS
& FIGURES
Languages : Hindi and
English
Best time to visit : October to March
STD Code : 061194
LOCATION
Nalanda, one of the greatest centers
of learning in the ancient times, is located in the
eastern Indian state of Bihar. A small village now,
Nalanda is situated around 72 km off Patna, the capital
of Bihar and is part of the Buddhist Circuit that also
includes Bodh Gaya and Rajgir. The village has a good
network of roads that connects it to the other cities
of the state.
CLIMATE
Nalanda, being in the Gangatic plains,
suffers from extreme weather conditions. The temperature
during summer can reach a maximum of 37.8°C and
a minimum of 17.8°C. The maximum temperature during
winter remains at around 27.8°C while the minimum
temperature dips down to as low as 10.6°C. Monsoon
arrives in this region in June and continued till September.
The average rainfall during monsoon is 120 cm.
PAST
Founded in the fifth century AD, Nalanda
is well known as an ancient seat of learning. However,
today this ancient university lies in ruins. The place
not only has the remains of the great university but
also many monasteries, temples, and viharas built by
different kings.
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 AD.
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.
The university found patrons in Gupta, Kushan, and
Pal kings in successive centuries. Ashoka and Harshavardhana
were some of its most celebrated patrons who built temples
and monasteries here. Recent excavations have unearthed
elaborate structures here. The university remained in
prominence till 12 century AD when the Afghans attacked
Bengal and burnt down this great University.
SITES TO VISIT
The ruins of Nalanda University are
spread over an area of 14 hectares of land. The university
was constructed in the Kushana style of architecture,
but the impact of the Pala dynasty is widely visible
throughout. Past excavations suggest that a large part
of the University is still unexcavated, but nowhere
does it suggest that the whole site could have accommodated
10,000 students and 2,000 teachers.
The Hiuen Tsang Memorial Hall is said to have been
built in the memory of Hiuen Tsang, a Chinese traveler
who came to India in around 5th century AD. Hiuen Tsang
was attracted by the glory of Nalanda University and
stayed there for 12 years both as a student and as a
teacher. He gave detailed and vivid description of the
Indian political and social conditions of that time.
The Surya Mandir is a temple near the University dedicated
to the Sun God. This temple has a number of statues
of Hindu and Buddhist deities. A five feet high statue
of Parvati is of particular interest.
The Nalanda museum was established in 1971 and has
a good collection of ancient manuscripts and Buddhist
statues. The manuscripts kept here were found during
the excavation of the area and many of them are rare
in appearance and style. The museum also displays artifacts
of the Maurya, Gupta and other periods.
The Nav Nalanda Vihar was established in 1951 to keep
the ancient tradition of spreading knowledge alive.
The Bihar government has set up this institute that
teaches Pali near the ancient university. In the institute
Indian as well as foreign students study and do research
work on Buddhism and Pali, which was a widely used language
in the ancient times.
SITES NEARBY
Rajgir is around 12 km from Nalanda
and a famous pilgrimage center for Hindus, Buddhists,
and Jains. There are many places of interest here such
as the Swarna Gufa, Griddhakuta Parvat, and Vishwa Shanti
Stupa etc.
Bihar Sharif, 13 km away is the district headquarters
and a center of Islamic architecture. The tomb of Malik
Ibrahim Baya is situated here and an annual Urs is celebrated.
Bodh Gaya, the most important Buddhist pilgrimage center
is around 50 km away from Nalanda. There is the Maha
Bodhi Temple, monasteries built by the governments of
Buddhist countries, and an archeological museum along
with several other sites.
Gaya is situated around 65 km from Nalanda and is a
major pilgrimage center for Hindus.
Pawapuri is situated at a distance of 47 km from Nalanda
and believed to be the place where Lord Mahavira died.
Patna, the capital of Bihar and a great historical
city is situated around 72 km northeast of Nalanda.
FAIRS AND FESTIVALS
Unique in Nalanda is the Chhath Puja,
or worship of the Sun god. The most famous one is at
the Sun temple in Baragaon near Nalanda, where new paddy,
sweets, and fruits are offered in worship.
The Buddha was born, attained enlightenment and attained
nirvana, all on the same full moon day of April/May.
Thus, Baisakhi Purnima is celebrated as Buddha Jayanti
here.
WHAT TO EAT
One famous dish that one should try
in Nalanda is khaja, which is a specialty of the region.
It is a crisp-fried oblong sweet made of layers of kneaded
flour dipped in syrup. The fresh, hot ones tastes the
best, though khaja is an anytime snack in the region.
WHERE TO STAY
There are some monasteries built by
Buddhist countries and a government guesthouse where
tourists can stay. Most of the good hotels are situated
in the nearby tourist centers like Rajgir, Bodhgaya,
and Gaya. Nalanda is usually a part of the day excursion
trips organized by different travel companies from Patna.
For those keen on exploring Nalanda, Patna is the most
convenient base.
HOW TO REACH
By Air
The nearest airport from Nalanda is Patna around
89 km away. There are regular flights from Patna connecting
to Calcutta, Delhi, Ranchi, Mumbai, Varanasi, Lucknow,
and Kathmandu.
By Rail
Rajgir 12 km away is the nearest railway station
from Nalanda. There are several passenger trains running
between Rajgir and Patna daily. The nearest major railway
point is Gaya around 65 km away, from where one can
take trains for Delhi, Calcutta, Varanasi, and some
of the major centers in eastern India.
By Road
Nalanda is connected through a good road network
with Rajgir 12 km, Bodh Gaya 50 km, Gaya 65 km, Patna
90 km, Pawapuri 26 km, and Bihar Sharif 13 km.
Local Transport
There are no taxis available in Nalanda.
Cycle rickshaws and tongas are the only modes of local
transport.
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