Tourist Attractions In Nalanda:

There are several places of tourist attractions in Nalanda.

Monastic university Ruins 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.he 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.he 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.he 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.he 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.

The Nalanda University archeological complex :

The total area of the excavation is about 14 hectares. All the edifices are of red brick and the gardens are beautiful. The buildings are divided by a central walkway that goes south to north, the monasteries or Viharas are east of this central alley and the temples of Chaiyas to the west. The Vihara-1 is perhaps the most interesting with its cells on two floors built around a central courtyard where steps lead up to what must have been a dais for the professors to address their students. A small chapel still retains a half broken statue of the Lord Buddha. The enormous pyramidal mass of the temple No 3 is impressive and from its top commands a splendid view of the entire area. It is surrounded by smaller stupas many of which are studded with small and big statues of the Lord Buddha in various poses or Mudras.

Nalanda archeological museum: 

Opposite the entrance to the ruins of the university and houses it has a small but beautiful collection of Buddhist and Hindu bronzes and a number of undamaged statues of the Lord Buddha that were found in the area. Two enormous terracotta jars of the first century stand intact behind the museum in a shaded enclosure. The collection includes copper plates and stone inscriptions, coins, pottery and samples of burnt rice found among the ruins here.

Nava Nalanda Mahavihara: 

Nava Nalanda Mahavihara is devoted to study and research in Pali literature and Buddhism. This is a new institute where students from foreign countries also study.

Xuan Zang Memorial Hall: 

The Xuan Zang Memorial Hall was built by Chinese as a peace pagoda. There is also an international centre for the study of Buddhism established in 1951.

SurajPur Baragaon: 

The lake with its temple to Surya, the God Sun is a pilgrim destination twice a year in Vaishakha (April-May) and in Kartika (October –November) during the Chhath Puja or Sun Worship.

Silao: 

In between Nalanda and Rajgir there is a village namely Silao where a very popular local sweet Khaja is prepared.