Difference between revisions of "Rajgir"

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Rajgir (or Rajagriha) is a city in Bihar in India. It is 15 km from the ruins of Nalanda University, and 100 km from Patna, the capital of the state.

Understand

Rajgir, meaning the abode of Kings, has been mentioned fist in the ancient Hindu epic Mahabharata as the capital of Magadh, ruled by the mighty King Jarasandha. Although the exact time of the origin of this city has not been established, it is estimated by scholars that it must be around 3,000 years old.

Rajgir has been mentioned in ancient Buddhist and Jain scriptures and also in the travelogues of Buddhist travellers Huen Tsang and Fa Hian who visited India during the Mauryan and Gupta times. The city is divided in two parts, the old fortified city which lies in the valley surrounded by seven hills (Chhatha, Ratna, Saila, Sona, Udaya, Vaibhara and Vipula) and the new city established by Ajatshatru, the son of Bimbisara and a contemporary of Lord Buddha.

Rajgir has been closely related to Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism and has played host to Lord Buddha and Mahavira, thus has many archeolgical sites related to Buddhism and Jainism.

Get in

By air

Patna and Gaya are the nearest airports which are connected to the major cities of India.

By train

Rajgir is connected to Patna, Kolkata and Delhi by train.

By road

Rajgir is connected to Patna by road and one can reach there form Patna by using NH 31-82. There are regular buses from Patna to this town. Busses from Bodh Gaya operate twice a day (7am and 2pm) during peak season. Buses from Gaya leave every half hour during the day, even in off season. The bus station is about two kilometers south (down the road) from the train station, and all buses in and out of the town will stop here. One can also take a rented car to reach the place.

Get around

See

• Japanese stupa, (Atop Gridhakuta).

• Gridhakuta (Vulture's Peak). The place is atop a small hill and believed to be a meditating place of Lord Buddha. On the top of the hill, there is a Viswa Shanti Stupa (Peace Stupa) build by the Government of Japan. One can reach the monument by using the ropeway or the flight of 600+ stone steps leading to the top of the hill.

• Venuvana (Bamboo grove). Is said to be a bamboo grove gifted to Lord Buddha by Bimbisara, the then king of Magadh.

• Tapodharma/Lakshmi Narayan Mandir. Tapodharma was the site of an ancient Buddhist monastery over which a Hindu temple is built today. The place has hot water springs which are rich in sulfur and said to have a curative effects.

• Saptaparni Caves (also known as Jarasandh's sitting room). These caves hosted the First Buddhist Council and were used by early Buddhist monks as resting places as well as centers of debates.

• Bimbisara's jail. This archeological site is believed to be the jail in which King Ajatshatru has imprisoned his father Bimbisara. From his prison cell, Bimbisara could see Buddha meditating on the Gridhakuta.

• Chariot Tracks. The Chariot Route and shell inscriptions consist of two parallel furrows cut deep into the rock ground for about thirty feet and are believed to have been made by Lord Krishna's Chariot. Several undeciphered shell inscriptions are engraved in the rock around the chariot marks.

• Maniar Matth. Dating 1 century CE, the Maniar Matth is said to be a monastery of a cult which worshipped snakes. Several snake and cobra figurines have been found in the vicinity in excavations.

• Sonabhandar. This ancient structure is said to be the treasury of Magadh.

• Makhdum Kund. This is the shrine of a Muslim Sufi Saint Makhdum Shah and has warm springs similar to Tapodharma.

• Cyclopean walls. Believed to be 2500 years old, these Cyclopean walls are a 40 km long and 4 meteres wide fortification running around the city.

Do

• Ropeway. Enjoy the ride on the ropeway.

• Hot springs. Take a deep bath in a hot spring (Kund).

Buy

Eat

• Near Rajgir railway station. Very cheap, delicious food served by family members of restaurant.

Sleep

There are a few places to stay near both the railway station and the bus station, and on the 2km road in between. The town has many budget hotels (Double rs 300), as well as Bihar tourist run hotels (Double Rs 1200). 9am checkouts are common, but can often be negotiated before money is exchanged.

• Sarada Group of Hotels, (Near Rajgir police station, opposite Ramakrishna Math), ☎ (06112) 255005, [1]. Rs 600-1000.

Get out

• Bodhgaya — often requires a change of bus in Bihar Sharif or Gaya
• Kakolat — a good waterfall
• Nalanda; Buses leave about every 30 minutes from the main bus stand. (rs 8)
• Bihar Sharif; Buses leave about every 30 minutes from the main bus stand. (about Rs20 in 2012)
• Patna; a direct bus from Rajgir to Patna only leaves once a day. Often the better option is to take a regular bus to Bihar Sharif (about Rs20 in 2012), then change for a bus to Patna (Rs 60 in 2012)