Bihar Travel Guide
Bihar, today, is a quaint interface of the old and new. The state
boasts of an incredible range of mineral resources. The coal belt in
Bihar is the mainstay of thermal energy in India. Bihar's modern visage
sports some of India's largest steel and mining industries. Like in all
ancient civilizations, the earliest human settlements in India sprung up
around its magnificent rivers. Few rivers of the world have moulded the
culture, economy and personality of the people dwelling on their banks
as the river Ganga has. Cutting straight across Bihar from west to east,
the bounteous Ganga nurtured a veritable fountainhead of political and
cultural civilizations, on its shores, down the millennia
Getting There:
By Air : Bihar has two airports – Patna, a
domestic airport connected directly to Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Lucknow,
and Ranchi and Gaya airport, a small international airport connected by
Indian airlines to Kolkata and Bangkok.
By Rail : Bihar is very well connected by rail lines
to the rest of India. Most of the towns are interconnected and also
directly connected to Kolkata, Delhi and Mumbai. Patna and Gaya are the
best-connected towns.
Quick Facts:
Area: 173,877 sq km
Religion: Hinduism (82.42%), Islam (14.80%), Others
(2.78%)
Capital: Patna
Languages: Hindi, Maithili, Bhojpuri
Best time to visit: October to March
Major Cities: Bodh Gaya, Nalanda, Pawapuri , Rajgir ,
Vaishali , Patna , Gaya
Tourist Attractions:
Bodhgaya
Bodhgaya is where the Buddha attained enlightenment and gave the world
a great religion like Buddhism. It is very near the capital city of
Patna. At a distance of around 125 km one can easily drive down from
Patna. The Mahabodhi Temple is where Buddha attained enlightenment. It
has a Peepal tree that is said to have been grown from the branches of
the famed tree. The town houses an Archaeological Museum and monasteries
built by people of many Buddhist countries.
Rajgir
Rajgir, meaning "The Royal Palace", (Raja Griha) lays 90 kms
South of Patna, and it was the capital of Magdha Kingdom. Rajgir is a
site of great sanctity and significance for Buddhists. The Gridhakuta
Hill, in Rajgir was the seat from where Buddha delivered many of his
sermons. It was here that the teachings of Buddha were recorded in
writing for the first time in the First Buddhist Council held at Rajgir
after the demise of Lord Buddha. Many sites of historical and
archaeological significance surround the Holy city of Rajgir. Bimbisara
Jail reminds one of the devoted Mauryan King Bimbisara being a Buddhist,
was imprisoned by his son Ajatashtru at this place where he spent his
last days. From here he could see Buddha climbing up the Gridhakuta Hill
to do his meditation.
Gaya
Gaya is one of the most important pilgrimage places for the Hindus. It
is believed that a Hindu will reach heaven if his last rites are offered
under the celebrated 'Akshayabat' or immortal banyan tree, standing in
the yard of Vishnupad temple. Believed to be built on the footsteps of
Vishnu, the grand temple was renovated by Ahalyabai, queen of Indore.
Bihar has some of the most sacred Buddhist and Hindu shrines
Vaishali
It is held that the town derives its name from King Vishal, whose
heroic deeds are narrated in the Hindu epic Ramayana. However, history
records that around the time Pataliputra was the centre of political
activity in the Gangetic plains, Vaishali came into existence as centre
of the Ganga, it was the seat of the Republic of Vajji. Vaishali is
credited with being the World's First Republic to have a duly elected
assembly of representatives and efficient administration.
Nalanda
Once a famous Buddhist university, Nalanda came into prominence about
the 5th century A.D. and was a great centre of learning for about 700
years. There is an array of monastaries in the east and a row of temples
on the west. Nearby is a museum which has an interesting collection of
Antiquities recovered from the site.
