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A Rendezvous With
Nalanda |
Located
in the eastern Indian state of Bihar, Nalanda was one of the greatest
centers of learning in the ancient times. Now a small village, Nalanda is
about 72 km from Patna, the capital city of Bihar and is part of the
Buddhist circuit that also includes Bodh Gaya and Rajgir. It has ruins of
its rich past scattered all around. Sculptures, frescoes and bas relief are
still to be seen amongst the ruins. Good network of roads connect Nalanda to
the other cities of the state making it accessible from all the parts of
India.
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Things You Can Do
in Nalanda |
» Sightseeing : This is the only thing you
can do here. This ancient city has numerous attractions to behold and get an
insight into the ancient glory of India.
» Shopping : From Nalanda one can buy souvenirs and
trinkets. But if want to buy some more things then, go to the main market of
the nearby destination Rajgir, where there are shops selling decorative
items and gift articles. You can also get handicraft materials, stone,
sea-shell items and jewellery, which are very popular among tourists. One
can also go for shopping in the Kund area of Rajgir.
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Sightseeing in
Nalanda |
» The Ruins of Nalanda University : Spread
over an area of 14 hectares of land are the ruins of Nalanda University. The
university was built in the Kushana style of architecture, but the one can
easily find the impact of the Pala dynasty throughout its architecture. In
the ancient times the Nalanda University was the largest university in the
world and accommodated about 10,000 students and 2,000 teachers.
» Hiuen Tsang Memorial Hall : Built in the memory of
Hiuen Tsang, a Chinese traveler who came to India in around 5th century AD,
the Hiuen Tsang Memorial Hall is a must visit place in Nalanda Bihar.
» Surya Mandir : This temple is dedicated to the Sun
God and is located near the university. This temple houses several statues
of Hindu and Buddhist deities.
» Nalanda Museum : The Nalanda museum was
established in 1971. The museum is a good collection of ancient manuscripts
and Buddhist statues. The museum also showcases artifacts of the Maurya,
Gupta and other periods.
» Nav Nalanda Vihar : Established in 1951 to keep
the ancient tradition of spreading knowledge, Nav Nalanda Vihar was set up
by the Bihar government to teach Pali language near the ancient university.
Pali a widely used language in the ancient times.
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Excursions from
Nalanda |
Nalanda,
the land oldest university in the world, is a beautiful place strewn with
ruins of the its glorious past. It has some of the most interesting
excursion destinations nearby like Rajgir, Pawapuri, Bodhgaya and others.
Rajgir is around 12 km from Nalanda and a famous pilgrimage center for
Hindus, Buddhists, and Jains. There are many places of interest here such as
the Swarna Gufa, Griddhakuta Parvat, and Vishwa Shanti Stupa etc.
Bodh Gaya, the most important Buddhist pilgrimage center is around 50 km
away from Nalanda. It consists the famous Maha Bodhi Temple, monasteries
built by the governments of Buddhist countries, and an archeological museum
along with several other sites. Gaya is situated around 65 km from Nalanda
and is a major pilgrimage center for Hindus. Pawapuri is situated at a
distance of 47 km from Nalanda and is believed to be the place where Lord
Mahavira died. Patna, the capital of Bihar and a great historical city is
situated around 72 km northeast of Nalanda.
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Most Ideal Time to
Visit Nalanda |
Nalanda, is located in the Gangetic plains, thus, it experiences
extreme weather conditions. In summers the maximum temperature can reach up
to 37.8°C and a minimum of 17.8°C. In winters the maximum
temperature is at around 27.8°C while the minimum temperature dips down
to as low as 10.6°C. Monsoon arrives in this region in June and
continued till September. The average rainfall during monsoon is 120 cm. The
ideal time to visit Nalanda is between October to March.
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Getting There |
» By Air : The nearest airport from Nalanda
is Patna around 89 km away. There are regular flights from Patna connecting
to Kolkata, Delhi, Ranchi, Mumbai, Varanasi, Lucknow, and Kathmandu.
» By Rail : Rajgir 12 km away is the nearest railway
station from Nalanda. Nearest major railway point is Gaya around 65 km away,
from where one can take trains for Delhi, Kolkata, Varanasi, and some of the
major centers in eastern India.
» By Road : Nalanda is connected through a good road
network with Rajgir 12 km, Bodh Gaya 50 km, Gaya 65 km, Patna 90 km,
Pawapuri 26 km, and Bihar Sharif 13 km.
» Private Vehicles : You can contact us for this, as
we are well established with an extensive number of cars and coaches
(ranging from luxury to budget and between) for the tourists from all over.
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Anchoring in
Nalanda |
Nalanda
was the center of learning in ancient times. It was a city filled with
students from all over the world. But now it is a small village with ruins
of historical past, managed by the Archaeological survey of India. These
ruins speak volumes about the rich history of Nalanda and it is these ruins
which attracts innumerable tourists from all over the world. One has to take
a bus or a taxi or a private vehicle to reach Nalanda from the airport or
the railway station. Cycle rickshaws and tongas are the most commonly used
modes of local transportation within Nalanda. Here,in Nalanda we can help
you by providing you pick up from wherever you want, airport or the railway
station and taking you to the tourist destination and then dropping you to
the hotel. For this, all you need to do is, book with us, we have an array
of cars and coaches that provide personalized services, ensuring that you
enjoy every moment for your trip, comfortably.
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Accommodations |
There are some monasteries built by Buddhist countries and a
government guest houses where tourists can accommodate themselves. There are
several good hotels in the nearby tourist centers like Rajgir, Bodhgaya, and
Gaya.
nalanda
india
