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A Rendezvous With
Rajgir |
Set
amidst a verdant valley surrounded by rocky hills, Rajgir is one of the most
revered destination in the Pilgrimage map of India. Located just 10 km from
Nalanda is the sacred town of Rajgir in the state of Bihar in the eastern
part of India. Religiously significant to both Buddhism and Jainism, Rajgir
is equally associated with Hinduism as well. It was in Rajgriha that Lord
Buddha delivered some of his famous sermons and converted King Bimbisara of
the Magadha Kingdom and countless others to his creed.
Once a great city, Rajgir is just a village now, but the remains of the
legendary and historical past still lingers around the city. Lord Buddha
spent many months of retreat during the rainy season here, and used to
meditate and preach on Griddhkuta, the 'Hill of the Vultures'. Lord Mahavir
spent fourteen years of his life at Rajgir and Nalanda. This small village
is also the testimony to many stirring events of Mahabharata.
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Things You Can Do
in Rajgir |
» Sightseeing : Sightseeing is one thing
that you will enjoy here. There are several ancient ruins, caves, temples
that will keep you occupied throughout the day. The nature around Rajgir is
also mesmerizing.
» Shopping : You can get curios and souvenirs from
the local markets of Rajgir. You can also buy decorative items, gift
articles, 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
Rajgir |
» Griddhakuta or Vulture's Peak : Lord
Buddha chose this place to mediate and preach. Lord Buddha set in motion his
second wheel of law from here and continuously for three months every year
during the rainy season, he delivered many inspiring sermons to his
disciples. At the top of the hill is the Shanti Stupa (Peace Pagoda),
constructed by the Buddha Sangha of Japan. A bridle path takes one up to the
hill but it is much more fun to take the Aerial Chairlift which operates
every day except Thursday. One way ride takes 7.5 minutes and the view is
just awe-inspiring over the hills of Rajgir.
» Cyclopean Wall : Built of massive undressed stone,
the wall is one of the few important pre-Mauryan stone structures ever to
have been found. This 40 km long wall encircles the town and the marks
engraved in rock is believed to be Lord Krishna's chariot. This legend, like
many others associates Rajgir to the stirring events recorded in the epic
Mahabharata were being enacted.
» Jain Temples : On hill crests around Rajgir, far
in the distances one can find about 26 Jain temples. The route is
unapproachable for the untrained, but make exciting trekking for those in
form.
» Hot Springs : This spring is located at the foot
of the Vaibhava Hill. A staircase leads up to the various temples. Separate
bathing ghats have been arranged for men and women and the water comes
through spouts from Saptadhara, the seven streams, believed to find their
source behind the "Saptaparni Caves", up in the hills. The hottest
of the springs is the Brahmakund with a temperature of 45 degree Celsius.
This is one of the most visited place in Rajgir.
» Pippala Cave : This rectangular stone sculpted by
the forces of nature is located above the hot springs on the Vaibhava Hill.
This appears to have been used as a Watch tower. Pippala Cave is popularly
known as "Jarasandha ki Baithak" after the name of the King
Jarasandha, a contemporary of Lord Krishna referred in the epic Mahabharata.
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Excursions from
Rajgir |
Rajgir,
an important Buddhist pilgrimage, is a must sight to visit. It some
wonderful excursion destinations nearby. Bodh Gaya, the place where Buddha
got enlightenment is around 34 km off Rajgir and connected through a good
network of roads. Major tourist attractions here are the Maha Bodhi Temple,
the place where under a Pipal tree, Buddha got his enlightenment, and
monasteries built by different Buddhist countries. 12 km from Rajgir is
Nalanda, a university in fifth century AD and remained the greatest seat of
learning for over 700 years. Pawapuri is situated some 35 km from Rajgir and
believed to be the place where Lord Mahavira died. Patna, the capital of
Bihar and a great historical city is situated around 60 km northeast of
Rajgir.
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Most Ideal Time to
Visit Rajgir |
The climate of Rajgir is of extreme type because of the fact that it
is situated in the Gangetic plains. In summers, especially, the months from
April to July are hot and humid here and the average temperature can reach
approximately 45°C and the relative humidity can go up to around 80
percent. Winters are cold with the average night temperature at around 10°C.
Monsoon touches this region in July/August and continues till September.
September to March is the most ideal time to visit this sacred little town.
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Getting There |
» By Air : The nearest airport for Rajgir is
Patna (107 km). There are regular flights for Delhi, Calcutta, Varanasi,
Lucknow, Mumbai, and Kathmandu from this airport. The nearest international
airport is Calcutta. One can also avail trains from Patna to Rajgir. From
Patna you can also take a bus or taxi to Rajgir.
» By Rail : Rajgir falls on the Eastern Railway and
there are daily trains from & to Patna and other places nearby.
» By Road : Rajgir is connected by road to Patna,
Gaya, Delhi and Calcutta. There are regular buses from Patna, Nalanda, Gaya,
and Bodhgaya to Rajgir.
» Private Vehicles : We are is fully equipped to
handle all your transport needs to Bodhgaya and Buddhist Circuit with A/C,
non A/C chauffeur driven comfortable cars. 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 Rajgir |
The
small and sacred city of Rajgir, is famous for its caves, temples,
monasteries and hot springs. It is one of the most revered places not only
for Buddhists, but for Hindus and Jains also. This peaceful and ancient
place is one of the important tourist puller in India. To reach Rajgir, one
can board a train to Rajgir from Patna or some other place or one can take
the roadways to reach Rajgir, since it is very well-developed. You can also
book with us, to avail services that will make your tour comfortable and
luxurious. We have an extensive number of vehicles that provide personalized
services. You wont have to think about all the hassles related to planning a
tour, we'll handle them.
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Accommodations |
There are a number of reasonably priced hotels available in Rajgir.
Tourists can stay at any of three tourists bungalows of Bihar State Tourism
Development Corporation located at Rajgir, having AC and Non-AC rooms or
Centaur Hokke Hotel.
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