Heritage Places

Ghora Katora which means "Horse Bowl" is a natural lake near the city of Rajgir in the Indian state of Bihar. It is said that the horses of the kings of Rajgir used to drink water here. The shape of the lake resembles that of a horse and is surrounded by mountains on three of the sides. The lake attracts migratory birds from Siberia and central Asia during winter. Ghora Katora will emerge as an important place for eco-tourism.

Vishwa Shanti Stupa, also called the Peace Pagoda, is a legendary historical pillar. It is located at the highest point of Ratnagiri hill, at an attitude of 400 m, qualifying its serene charm as divine. The stupa is made up of white marble stones, symbolic of world peace and enshrines four golden statues of Buddha. It can be reached by means of a ropeway.

It is a single-person ropeway that runs at the top of Ratnagiri Hill. It leads to the Vishwa Shanti Stupa (Peace Pagoda). A new hi-tech Eight Seater aerial ropeway also will be starting at Rajgir together the existing 39-year-old ropeway.

Spread out in an area 22 acres Pandu Pokhar at Rajgir is a truly wonderful and magnificient example of great indian history that dates back to the Mahabharta. It extracts the story of how King Pandu. It’s a heritage that speaks of the glorious history of natural wealth.

The Nature Safari which has been developed by the department of forests, environment and climate change over 500-hectares of land visitors. The unique experiences of glass sky walk, suspension bridge, Adventure Park and butterfly zone. The site also has an archery range, rock climbing walls and wrestling zone among other attractions..

It is widely believed that the spring, located at the foot of Vipul & Vaibhar hills, has some medicinal properties. As it is a matter of faith, many temples have come up around the spring. People offer prayers after taking bath in the bathing area, which has been developed for the devotees.

Venu Van is a historical park associated with Buddha located at Rajgir in Nalanda district, Bihar. During Lord Buddha’s stay in Rajgir, Bimbisara gifted him the royal park known as Venu Van (literally, ‘bamboo forest’). There is a small pond inside known as Karandak tank. The forest was a favorite of Lord Buddha, who used to take a bath in the Karandak tank before going to teach his disciples on Giddha Kuta hill. It is said that Bimbisara once spent a night with Lord Buddha here as he got late after taking a bath in the warm springs nearby and the city gates had closed.

The Jal Mandir or Water Temple is situated in Pawapuri, in the Indian state of Bihar. It is a major pilgrimage destination of Jains and the temple is dedicated to Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankara, which marks the place of his cremation. Mahavira attained Nirvana in Pawapuri in 527 BC. The temple was originally built by King Nandivardhan, elder brother of Mahavira, within the pond which is filled with red coloured lotus flowers. It is one of the five main temples in Pawpuri, where the "Charan Paduka" or foot impression of Mahavira is deified.

Rajgir Hills are located near Rajgir town in Nalanda district of Bihar state. The names of the five hills that surround Rajgir are Vipulgiri, Ratnagiri, Udayagiri, Swarangiri and Vaibhargiri. It is an important Hindu, Buddhist and Jain religious site. These hills are organized in two rows running for 65 km, touching 388 meters at their highest point, although most of the mountains are 300 meters high. Between these two mountain ranges there are many places related to Mahabharata, Gautam Buddha, Maurya Empire and Gupta Empire. Due to their relationship with Lord Mahavira and Mahatma Buddha, they have importance in Jain and Buddhist.

The zoo safari has been developed by the Department of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Govt. of Bihar. The zoo safari is spread over 191 hectares (470 acres) and has five zones namely Herbivore Safari, Bear Safari, Leopard Safari, Tiger Safari and Lion Safari which accommodate over 250 herbivores and carnivores. The main wild animal species includes Chital, Sambar, Black buck, Hog Deer, Barking Deer, Wild Boar, Sloth Bear, Indian Leopard, Royal Bengal Tiger and Asiatic Lion Considered to be one of its kinds, the Zoo Safari is blessed with natural forest varying from large grasslands and Bamboo thickets to dense Sal Forest.

This is a place which will remind us us an unfortunate father who was Imprisoned at the bands of his own son. Bimbisar Jail is the prison where King Bimbisar (558 BC-491 BC) was kept by his own son Ajatshatru (492 BC-460 BC) so that he can enjoy the privilege to be on the thorne. This site at the Bimbisar Jail was selectedby the King himself. This was because he could witness from have the ascent of Lord Budha to the mountain retreat at the Gridhakutta Hill. King Bimbisar was a great follower of Lord Budha. He believed in pea and thus admitted the audacity of his son. This is historical one and hears the testimonials of the rich past at the state of bihar.

This Archological 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. Prosably these shell inscriptions belong to 4th or 5th century A.D. According to legend the chariot wheel marks belong to the Mahabharta Period. The Chariot Wheel Marks are two parallel furrows cut deep into the rock for about 30 feet long. According to the local legends, these marks were formed due to the high speed and power of the chariot of Lord Krishna when he arrived in Rajgir. Adding to the mystery, an engraved and still to be decrypted script around the Chariot Route Marks makes this spot in Rajgir a must-visit for tourists. This engraved script is estimated to be written between 4th or 5th century A.D.

The Maurya King Bimbisara had built a cave in Rajgir during his reign to hide his treasure by cutting a big mountain. Due to which the name of this cave was named "Son Bhandar Caves". It is said about this cave that this cave was built to save gold. Which till date no one has been able to open it. On entering the Son Bhandar cave, a room 10.4 meters long, 5.2 meters wide and 1.5 meters high comes, this room was for the soldiers guarding the treasure. From the back wall of this room there is a way to reach the treasure. The entrance of this path is closed by a huge stone gate. There is something written in the conch shell script on a rock of this cave built during the time of Maurya ruler. In relation to this, it is a popular belief that the secret of opening this treasure room is written in this conch shell script. Some people also believe that this way to reach the treasure goes through the Vaibhavgiri mountain ocean to the Saptaparni caves, which reaches the other side of the Son Bhandar cave.

Located near the Swarna Bhandar, the Maniyar Math is just a deep well with a small Jain temple built on it. This monastery is situated near the Warm Water Spring in Rajgir. In Jain history, it was known as the Nirman Koop of the Queen Chalanna and Sheel Bhadra. It is also considered to be a Yagna place during the Buddhist era. Maniyar Math is made up of cylindrical bricks and is an amazing specimen of the Gupta period. It is one of the well-known places to visit in Rajgir and was built in remembrance of Naga Salibadra, who is supposed to have buried his treasure in the well. Many statues were found during the excavations conducted in 1861-62. You can also see numerous high stucco images of Lord Shiva and Ganesha belonging to the Gupta period and also many minor structures built for religious and ritual purposes.

At a distance of 2 km from Rajgir hot spring water, Saptaparni Cave is a Buddhist cave situated on Vaibhavgiri Hill in Rajgir, Bihar. It is one of the popular places of heritage in Bihar and among the must-visit Rajgir Tourist Places. Saptparni Cave, also referred to as Sapta Parni Guha, literally Seven-leaves-cave is an important Buddhist cave site as it is believed to be the place where Lord Buddha spent some time before his death. And, this is also the site where the first Buddhist council was held after Buddha's parinirvana. It is here that a council of 500 monks decided to appoint Ananda (Buddha's cousin) and Upali, to deliver Buddha's teachings for the future generations after Buddha's death. The Buddha never wrote down his teachings. After the Saptaparni Caves meeting, Ananda created an oral tradition of Buddha's teaching from his memory, prefacing it with 'Thus have I heard on one occasion'. Upali is credited with reciting the Vinaya (discipline), or 'rules for the Bhikshus'. A Magadha ruler named Ajatshatru also built a Sabha Mandap in front of these caves, which was used for the first Buddhist council. Today, the cave is a popular site that attracts thousands of tourists every year from across the world. A 20-minute uphill hike from the back of the Lakshmi Narayan Temple takes you past Jain and Hindu temples to this atmospheric cave and natural rock platform, where Buddha is said to have meditated.

Gridhakuta Hill is a residual and sedimentary hill in Rajgir, Bihar. The altitude of the hill is 717.5 metres (2,354 ft). Gridhakuta Hill is also known as the "Vulture’s Peak". The hill is famous for thousands of Hindu, Buddhist and Jain shrines built during the time of Mauryan Empire. This is the place where Lord Buddha preached many of his teachings and sermons. The place is also of archaeological importance. There are 4 caves on the hill in which rock paintings and mural paintings are visible. Gridhakuta Hill is the place where Lord Buddha carried out many dialogues with his disciples during the rainy seasons after he achieved Enlightenment. It is the place where Lord Buddha started his second helm of commandment and preached many inspiring teachings and sermons to his disciples. He introduced King Bimbisara to Buddhism in this place. It was at Gridhakuta hill that Lord Buddha gave his two significant sutras the Lotus Sutra and the Prajnaparamita. Gautama Buddha spent three months during the rainy season in retreat at the Gridhakuta hill, meditating and sermonising some of his most important discourses. The Buddha Sangha of Japan has raised a huge Shanti Stupa (Peace Pagoda), at the summit of the Gridhakuta hill in honour of Lord Buddha. This stupa is the central point of Rajgir, enclosing beautiful statues of Buddha outside and within.

Ruins of Nalanda University Nalanda, a large Buddhist monastery, now in ruins, was one of the most publicly acknowledged Mahaviharas of ancient India located in ancient Magadha kingdom (modern Bihar). It remained a learning centre from 7th century BCE through c. 1200 CE and is many a time categorised as one of the early universities of India along with other institutions like ‘Vikramshila’ and ‘Takshila’. The patronage of the Gupta Empire saw this Mahavihara prosper during 5th and 6th century as also during the reign of emperor Harsha of Kannauj. However tantric developments of Buddhism during the Pala rule saw an eventual decline of Nalanda. Students and scholars from places like China, Central Asia, Korea and Tibet studied in this great vihara that taught Maha-yana, Hina-yana, Sanskrit grammar, Vedas and Samkhya among others. Imminent pilgrim monks like Hiuen-Tsang and I-tsing from East Asia visited this place in the 7th century. Recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, Nalanda not only boasts of being one of the most revered Buddhist tourism sites in India but also continues to draw attention from scholars, historians and archaeologists.