Bimbisara Marg Location: The old way that led
to Girdh Koot Parvat is known as Bimbisara Marg Importance:
According to Hieun-Tsang, King Bimbisara got this way built
to meet Lord Buddha who was staying on Gridh Koot Parvat.
This is about 20 - 24 feet broad path.
There are two Stupas of bricks on Bimbisara Marg. First Stupa
is 73 Meter high from the base. Second Stupa is situated on
the north of the path. These Stupas are built in the memory
of the spots where Bimbisara got down from the chariot &
where he asked the crowd that accompanied him to go back to
the town respectively.
Chariot Wheel Mark and Shell Characters Location: Importance: This Archaeological
Area Indicates some parts of Chariot wheel mark and shell
inscriptions. These shell inscriptions which have been found
in many places in Rajgir and Northern India have not yet been
deciphered. Probably these shell inscriptions belong to 4th
or 5th century A.D. According to legend the chariot wheel
marks belong to the Mahabharata period.
Fort wall of Old Rajagriha Location: Importance: These massive dry
built wall of large unhew stones form the outer artifications
of Old Rajagriha and extend nearly 30 miles along the crest
of the hills. They are among the oldest remains at Rajgir.
Fort of Ajatshatru & Bimbisara’s
Prison Location: Situated at Rajgir,
Fort of Ajatshatru, spread over 1858 Sq.meters & Bimbisara’s
Prison, inside it. Approx. 1
Km South-east of Bimbisara’s Golden Treasury. Importance: According to historical
sources King Ajatshatru (6th Century BC), after becoming the
king, kept his father Bimbisara in a small prison (Bimbisara’s
Prison ) inside his fort (Fort of Ajatshatru ). Built in the
6th Century BC, there were stone towers on all four corners
of this 60 Meter long & 2 Meter broad square wall. King
Bimbisara chose this place in the last years of his life so
that he can see Lord Buddha going to Gridh Koot Parvat every
morning. Lord Buddha resided there in this period.Now, at
this place, ruins of the walls of the fort, path of the chariots
& remains of the bath are visible. Ajatshatru’s
Stupa (6.5 Meter) is also situated here. Many archaeological
remains have been found here in excavation, which include
small rooms of stone. Besides this, in1930, a huge iron chain
was found during the maintenance of this fort, which had a
ring on one end. It is believed that this might have been
used as hand cuff.
Treasure of Bimbisara (Golden Treasury)
Location: 1 Km from Bimbisara’s
Prison, situated at Rajgir, two caves among the hills with
just one outlet. Importance: It is believed that
in Bimbisara’s period (6th Century BC) one cave was
for the guards & the other had Bimbisara’s Treasure.
This cave has inscriptions in Shakhs script. Even after many
attempts, these could not have been deciphered.
Saptaparni Caves Location: Saptarni Caves are
situated on the northern slope of the Vaibhar Hills ( Below
the Jain Temple of Adinath).
It is a group of 6 caves, which were probably 7 in their original
form. Importance: After the Nirvana
of Lord Buddha, the first summit of the Buddhists was held
here due to the migration of Bimbisara’s Son Ajatshatru,
which lasted for six months. Lord Buddha’s teachings
were first put to writing at this place.Saptaparni Caves is
long man-made structures of rocks.Stones have been fixed at
some portions of this path. The place in front of the caves
is 36.57 Meter long & 10.36 Meter broad in the east &
3.65 Meter broad in the west. The wall that shows the outer
side of this place was made of Angarh stone & only 5 Meter
& 2.4 Meter of which remains.
Ashok Stupa Location: Situated in the west
of new Rajgrih, across the river Saraswati a large mound,
which is known as Ashok Stupa. Importance: According to Fa
-Hian, Ajatshatru constructed this whereas Hieun-Tsang believed
that King Ashoka constructed it. The height of the Stupa mound
is 10 Meters.Three fragmented Stupas have been found from
the middle of the mound. Many bricks of Mauryan period &
Mini Stupas of clay were found by digging upto 3 meters on
the western side. These are 5 cm & 2.5 cm in diameter.
Inside each of these Stupas earthern tablets have been found
with Buddhist theology written on them.
Venuvan Location: Situated in the east
of ancient river Saraswati, King Bimbisara built ’Venuvan
Vihar’ in ‘Venuvan’ for Lord
Buddha. Importance: This was the first
gift to Lord Buddha from Bimbisara’s side. Bimbisara
spent a night with Lord Buddha here as he got late after taking
bath in the warm water springs (Modern Name, Saraswati) &
the gates of the city were closed. According to historical
books, Lord Buddha stayed here for a very long time. This
place is now a beautiful garden of colorful flowers. The foundation
of a room & bases of 9 Stupas of brick were found in excavation
at Venuvan. There is a huge mound in the south of it which
is 776 feet in circumference & 27 feet in height. This
mound is surrounded by ancient underground shrines. On the
eastern side of the mound, tablets of 10th – 11th Century
have been found along with many traces of foundations.
Ajatshatru Stupa Location: Ajatshatru Stupa is
situated near Venuvan. Importance: The mound situated
in the east of Venuvan is known as Ajatshatru Stupa. At present
this mound is east of the road. Foundation & pillars of
rock can be seen here. Huen -Tsang has mentioned about Stupa
built by Ajatshatru in the east of Venuvan.
Son Bhandar Caves Location: These two caves located
at the southern foot of 'vaibhar hills' are popularly known
as son Bhandar. Importance: The caves were excavated
during 3rd-4th century A.D. by the great saint Vairadeva for
Jaina sages. As per an incription recorded in between the
door and window of the western cave. Internally the caves
are rectangular on plan with straight walls up to a certain
height and vault-shaped roof there upon. The countryard in-front
and the beam holes seen on the exterior of the caves suggest
that there was a roofed verandah attached to it. The eastern
cave depicts beautiful images of Jain Thirthankars like padmaparabh,
Parsvanath, Mahavira and others carved in relief on the southern
wall. The upper story was added with the help of brick structure
and rock-cut stair case for approach during Gupta period.