According to historians, Bihar’s history dates back to more than 3000 years, when the region was first inhabited by the settlers. Considered to be a sacred spot for several religions including Buddhists, Muslims, Sikhs and Jains, Bihar’s a wonderful place to explore for the history buffs. Infact, the famous Buddhist shrine, the Mahabodhi temple has already been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Bihar is filled with several ancient cities that have made a separate place in hearts of history aficionados. Most of these historical sites are well connected with other major cities and towns in the region. Don’t forget to check the Lichchavi Express 14005 running status, as the train runs through some of the major destinations. Let’s take a look at some of the best places to learn about the history of the place.
Gaya – Gaya is an ancient city with huge historical and mythological importance. One of the major tourist attractions in the state, the city is one of the biggest pilgrimage sites for Buddhists and Hindus. Situated at a distance of about 100 km from the capital Patna, the city derived its name from a mythological devil known as Gayasur. Legend has it that the demon was subjected to severe punishment, seeing his silent observance impressed Lord Vishnu and he transformed his body into rocky hill, upon which the city was laid.
Bodh Gaya – One of the most sacred cities in the region, Bodhgaya is about 12 km away from Gaya. It’s the same place where a young prince called Siddhartha sat under a giant banyan tree to meditate and emerged out enlightened as Buddha. As per the historians, the town’s history dates back to 500 BC, where it has been mentioned as Bodhimanda and the main monastery as Bodhimanda Vihara. And apart from Lumbini, Sarnath and Kushinagar, it is the other most important town in the life of Gautam Buddha. Currently, the city is a great place for Buddhists, devotees and historians to explore the local culture.
Nalanda – Once a prime center of learning and education, Nalanda is known for its Buddhist monuments. Considered as the first planned university in Indian history, Nalanda was a flourishing city during the rule of Guptas, Sakr Aditya, Pala and Harsha empire. This famous centre of learning was also mentioned in the diaries of Hiuen Tsang, the Chinese explorer, who mentioned about the culture and working of the university.
Rajgir – Another historical gem in Bihar is Rajgir, meaning home to the Gods, which is situated about 90 km from Patna. Rajgir also finds its mention in the epic Mahabharata, where it is depicted as the kingdom of Yadava clan. Rajgir is supposed to an ancient city, supposed to be founded by the people who came looking for the hot sulphur springs in the region, said be containing medicinal properties. You can also see few Jain and Buddhist temples in the region, which might be because of the local influence.
