District - Nalanda
Commissionery - Patna
Headquarter - Biharsharif
Sub-Division - Biharsharif, Hilsa, Rajgir
Population - 19,97,995 (20Lacs)
Area - 2,361.70 Sq. Km
Sea Level - 113 Meter
Temperature - Summer: 42⁰C - 20⁰C
Winter: 20⁰C – 4⁰C
Best Season - November – March
Road Route - 105 Km. from Patna, 49 Km from Bakhityarpur
Rail Route - Main Railway Station – Bakhitiarypur
Air Route - Main Airport – Gaya.
Roadway - 105 Km from Patna, (Bakhtiarpur- 49 Km, Bihar Shareef- 20 Km,Nalanda- 12 Km, Pawapuri- 39 Km, Gaya- 66 Km, Vaishali- 145 Km). Connected to Gaya & Nalanda via straight road route, regular
Service of tourist buses of State Transport from Patna & Gaya
Railway - Nearest Railway Station- Bakhtiarpur (On Delhi Howrah Route) Main Railway Station- Patna
Airway - Nearest Airport- Gaya (34 Km)
Main Airport- Patna (107 Km)

Main Spots of tourist Interest

Historical Importance

105 Km South-East of Patna, Rajgir is situated only 12 Km from Nalanda & is surrounded by 48 Km long ranges of 5 hills. It is believed that Vasu, the Son of Bramha made this place inhabitable in the Ramayana period. In the ancient times Rajgir was know by many names; it was known as Vasumati in the Ramayana period, called Rajgrih in Buddhist literature, where as in Jain texts it was named as Kushagrapur. It was called Girivraj because it is surrounded by hills on all sides. In different time periods it had different references.Along with historical & mythological importance, this city is among those cities which are important pilgrimage places of Buddhist & Jain religious followers. Lord Buddha (6th Century BC) meditated here on the Gridh Koot Parvat. This place was quite dear to him. After the enlightenment, Lord Buddha spent the 2nd & the 3rd periods of four month each at this place. After his Parinirvana, the first meeting of Buddhist Commune was also held here and his speeches were put to writing

Ancient city Rajgir was the first capital of Kingdom of Magadh in the 6th Century BC. Rajgrih (Rajgir) was built by Great Architect Mahagovind. Historians belive that when Ajatshatru’s grandson, King Udyana (459 – 438 BC) made Patliputra the capital of Magadh, the political importance of Rajgir decreased. Before the establishment of Patliputra, Rajgir was at its pinnacle during the reins of Ajatshatru.

Places of Tourist Interests

Vishwa Shanti Stupa
Location: Vishwa Shanti Stupa is situated on Ratnagiri Parvat, in front of Gridh Koot Parvat, the favorite residing place of Lord Buddha the one who taught the World, peace & non-violence.
Importance: There are golden statues of Lord Buddha on all sides at the top of the Stupa, which is decorated in marble. It is a living example of the imagination of Nichidasu Fuji, President of Japanese Buddhist Society.This Stupa is 129 feet high, on the top of it there is a10 feet high lotus shaped pot is situated. The diameter of the Stupa is 103 feet. Tourists assemble here in large numbers.

In 1965, the then President of India laid the foundation stone of this Stupa, which was completed in 4 years & 7 months. Built as a symbol of peace by the ‘Indo Japanes Sarvodaya Maitri Sangh’, this was inaugurated by Mr. V. V. Giri in 1969.

Rope-Way
Rope-way is operated between Gridh Koot Parvat to Ratnagiri Parvat, which covers a distance of 7 Km in 15 minutes. The Rope-Way is closed on Thursday & is open between 9:15 am to 1:00 pm & from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm.

Gridh Koot Hills
Location: Situated at Rajgir, beside Ropeway Ratnagiri Mountain.
Importance: It is a historical fact that Lord Buddha used to preach his disciples on Gridh Koot Parvat during the rainy season. He gave his second sermon here and introduced King Bimbisara to Buddhism. The 4 natural caves situated on the top of this hill were four main disciple of Lord Buddha. Many tablets made of baked clay have been discovered from these caves, which depict the Early Buddhists & Forthcoming Buddha-Maitrey seated in rows & each picture has Buddhist preaching encrypted below them. Many Buddhist remains have also been found from this place.

Maniyar Math
Location: Situated on the way to Sone Bhandar Caves, is basically a well on which a small Jain Temple is built. This monastery is situated 1 Km from the Warm Water Spring.
Importance: Maniyar Math is called the Nirman Koop of Queen Chalanna & Sheelbhadra in Jain history. Ajatshatru’s mother Chalanna was the princess of Videh (Vaishali). Maniyar Math is also believed to be the place of Yagna of Buddhist era. It is construction of cylindrical bricks. It is an amazing example of art of Gupta period (320 – 550 AD). This place was built in the memory of Naga Salibadra. It is said that he got his treasure buried in this well. In 1861 -62, General Cunningham got this place excavated. In the excavation, many statues were found at the depth of 19 feet. Historians believe that these statues were of the period from 1st Century to 6th Century AD. Pali Scripture, Sanyukta Nikay has it describes as Manimaal-Chaitya, where Lord Buddha had a dialogue with Manibhadra Yaksha.

Hindu Scripture, Mahabharata has the description of Rajgrih as the Holy residence of Mani Naga. Probably this place the residing place of Mani Naga in the Mahabharata period & the word Maniyar has been developed from the ancient word Manimaal (Mani Naga).Due to statues of Lord Shiva & Nagas found at different times, it is believed that this place was an important place of Naga Worshipers in the Shaiv period.
Located almost at the centre of the old city of Rajgirha. The main attraction is a well-like structure made of 1.20 mtr. thick wall with a dia of 3 meter approx. The exterior provides niches containing 0.60 mtr. high stucco images of a linga decorated with garland, four-armed vishnu. Nagi-image, Ganesha Twisted with snakes around his body and six-armed dancing shiva.
Unforturnately most of the images have now disappeared. from their art-style the images belong to Gupta period the 5th century A.D. the minor structures such as alter platforms and shrines etc. seem to be constricted for religious and ritual purpose related to serpent worship.

Amarvan (Jeevak Amravan Vihar)
Location: While moving toward Gridh Koot, on the eastern side of the base of Chhan Giri hill, Jeevak Amravan Vihar is situated.
Importance: Jeevak, the son Shalwati, the chief courtesan of Magadh, studied Medicine at Taxila with the help of Magadh State & became the Royal Physician of Magadh. King Bimbisara gave Jeevak a Mango Orchard, where he resided & which was known as Jeevak Amravan. Here Lord Buddha came when he was injured by his cousin Devdutt out of jealousy, Jeevak bandaged his wound.

According to the Pali scriptures, this was situated in the center of the Eastern Gate & Gridh Koot.Jeevak gifted his Amravan to Lord Buddha & the Commune & thus the Vihar was built here. Foundations & walls of some huge circular rooms, rectangular rooms have been found here. The structure of this building is different from the structure of other Buddhist Vihars. It is possible that at the time of the construction of this building, the standardization of Buddhist Vihars didn’t take place.

MardKukshi
Location: MardKukshi Vihar was situated along with Amarvan (ancient Jeevak Amravan Vihar) At present there are no traces of this.
Importance: According to Pali scriptures, this Vihar was situated on the base of Girdh Koot Parvat. Lord Buddha was brought here before being taken to Jeevak Amravan Vihar when he was injured by Devdutt with the motive to kill.
Pali name MaddKukshi (MardKukshi in Sanskrit) refers to an incident. According to which King Bimbisara’s queen Challana tried to abort her child Ajatshatru when she got to know that he will later kill his father.

Karandataal
Location: In the foothills of Vaibhar Hills, 150 Meters north of the underground springs, it’s a huge lake in north of Venuvan, which is know as ancient Karandtaal.
Importance: Pali & other Buddhist Texts described this as ‘Kaland Nivaap’ or’Karandak Nivaap’.Historical belief is that Lord Buddha used to bathe here during his stay at Rajgir.

Peepal Gufa (Jarasandh Ki Baithak)
Location: This is a stone structure on the eastern slope of Vaibhar Hills ( a little further up of the Shatdhara Warm Water Spring) which is known as Peepal Caves.
Importance: According to Buddhist scriptures, Pippal, (the other name of Mahakashyap, main disciple of Lord Buddha & the first Chairman of the Buddhist Union) resided here. Once upon a time when Mahakashyap was extremely hurt with body & mind & was lying here, Lord Buddha himself came here to meet him. The importance of this place is also associated with the Magadh Emperor Jarasandh of the Mahabharata period. ‘Jarasandh Ka Akhara’ had its own historical importance. Here he used to call other kings & imprisoned them after defeating them in wrestling. According to other beliefs King Jarasandh used to do political planning with his ministers at this place. Some people believe that built with rectangular stones over the warm water springs, this was also used as a watch tower. These caves are among the oldest remains of Indian architecture. It is in the shape of rectangular platform which 25.9 Meter in length, 24.7 Meter in breath from the base & 24.8 Meter & 24 Meter from the top respectively. It is about 6 to 8 Meter high. Popularaly known as Garasanth Ki- Baithak this massive stone structure with cells on all sides has been identified with this Pippala stone house frequented by the Buddha (c. 563-483 B.C.)