Bihar has many tags attached to it. The state owns the pride
of establishing one among the first democracies in the world called Lichhavi.
The earliest university in the world was established in Bihar. The name Bihar
is a derivative from Vihara, which means ‘monastery’. True to its name and its
rich cultural heritage, the state houses various monasteries and it is famous
for monuments belonging to various religions. The major empires of India rose
to great heights here and they succumbed here as well. River Ganga enriches the
plains of the landlocked state and contributes to the fertility of lands along
with rivers Kosi and Gandak. A wonderful place with a rich history offers many
tourist attractions out of which, the top 10 places to visit in Bihar are
mentioned below.
10
Best Places to Visit in Bihar
1. Nalanda
University
Nalanda University was established during the 5th century
A.D. The university is considered the first residential university ever in the
world. The university stands proof for the prominent role played by India in
imparting knowledge. The university had 2000 teachers who taught over 10000
students from all parts of the world. The uniqueness of the place could be
gauged by the fact that Buddha himself was a teacher here and Hieun-Tsang,
Chinese traveler and a great scholar, was a student of this university. Red
rocks were used in the construction, which is built in Kushana style of
architecture. The remains excavated from the university ruins include stupas,
ornamented panels, lecture halls and stairway.
2. Bodhi
Tree
Bodhi Tree is located about 100 km from Patna. Buddha
achieved enlightenment under this tree and hence it is a pilgrim center for
Buddhists who hail from all parts of the world. The place where it is situated
has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. On your visit to Bodhi Tree, you will find
Maha Bodhi Temple, which is sacred to those who follow Buddhism. The
architecture of the temple goes to show the richness and grace of Indian
architecture.
3.
Muchalinda Lake
Muchalinda Lake acquires the name after Shesh Naga or the
Snake King Muchalinda who protected Buddha during a storm while he was into the
sixth week of meditation. Muchalinda protected Buddha from the rising waves and
in honor of his services; the place was named after him. You could find the
sculpture depicting the hood protecting Buddha who is in the state of
meditation on snake coil. The green trees by the lake and the lush greenery
make it the most frequented tourist spot in Bodh Gaya.
4.
Griddhakuta Peak
Griddhakuta Peak is famously known as the vulture peak.
Located in Rajgir, the peak resembles the shape of vulture and it is frequented
by vultures in great numbers. Buddha delivered some of his famous sermons here
and hence it is considered sacred for Buddhists. The steps formed by cutting
rocks lead you to two caves that are naturally formed. For those who find the
trip physically challenging, chairlift facilities are available to reach the
hilltop. Image credits lena milosevic
5. Rajgir
Hot Springs
Hot springs in Rajgir are famous tourist spots. Located at
the foot of Vaibhava Hills, the springs get their water from Saptadhara, which
passes behind Saptaparni Caves. The hot springs are considered to possess
medicinal properties. Among the hot springs, Brahmakund spring is the hottest
and has a temperature of 450 Celsius. It is believed that Lord Buddha and
Mahavira had bathed in these hot springs.
6. Buxar
Fort
The ancient fort situated in Buxar along the Ganges River was
constructed in 1054 AD. The carvings found in the fort offer amazing views and
the construction of the fort is outstanding. While you are here, do not miss
some of the tourist attractions nearby, which include Gauri Shankar Temple and
Nath Baba Temple.
7. Navlakha
Palace
Situated in the town of Rajnagar near Madhubani in Bihar, the
palace was built in the 17th century A.D. by
Maharaja Rameshwar Singh of
Darbhangha. It suffered extensive damage caused by an earthquake in 1934, and
sadly wasn’t rebuilt after. Situated near the kamala river is a marble temple
of the goddess kali, and it’s still widely visited, another temple of the
goddess Durga forms an integral part of the palace, and is still in operation,
also known as the Rajnagar palace complex, it’s one of the major tourist
attractions in Mithila and people come to visit all year round.
8. Hieun
Tsang Memorial Hall
Built in memory of the famous Chinese scholar and traveler
Hieun Tsang, the construction is rich in architecture. Hieun Tsang spent more
than 12 years in this place on his visit to India. This was the place where
Hieun Tsang learnt yoga under the guidance of Acharya Shil Bhadra. The famous
traveler has thrown light on medieval India and Nalanda, which are found in the
memorial hall.
9.
Jalmandir Temple
Jalmandir Temple is situated in the middle of a lake, which
is full of lotuses. King Nandivardhan, who was the elder brother of Lord
Mahavira is said to have constructed the temple. The temple is in the shape of
a Vimana. The place where Lord Mahavira attained Samadhi and the place he was
cremated are marked in the temple. The 600 ft long bridge made of stone
connects the temple to the banks of the pond.
10. Patna
Museum
Patna Museum was constructed in 1917. The building is a blend
of Rajput and Mughal architecture. The museum houses archaeological objects,
paintings, sculptures and images by artists belonging to Hinduism and Buddhism.
The museum also has a 200 million old fossil of a tree. At 12 noon every day,
you can view picture source associated to culture. You will find the museum to
provide information on the culture and tradition of the place. The museum
remains closed on Mondays.
There are many more tourist places in Bihar but you will find
most of them related to its culture. Your tour to Bihar will provide you an
insight of its rich cultural heritage and glorious past.
About PRABISH BISHUNGKHE
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