CLIMATE

Nalanda, being in the Gangatic plains, suffers from extreme weather conditions. The temperature during summer can reach a maximum of 37.8°C and a minimum of 17.8°C. The maximum temperature during winter remains 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.

PAST

Founded in the fifth century AD, Nalanda is well known as an ancient seat of learning. However, today this ancient university lies in ruins. The place not only has the remains of the great university but also many monasteries, temples, and viharas built by different kings.

Though the Buddha visited Nalanda several times during his lifetime, this famous centre of Buddhist learning shot to fame much later, during 5th-12th centuries AD. In this first residential international university of the world, 2,000 teachers and 10,000 students from all over the Buddhist world lived and studied.

The university found patrons in Gupta, Kushan, and Pal kings in successive centuries. Ashoka and Harshavardhana were some of its most celebrated patrons who built temples and monasteries here. Recent excavations have unearthed elaborate structures here. The university remained in prominence till 12 century AD when the Afghans attacked Bengal and burnt down this great University.

SITES TO VISIT

The ruins of Nalanda University are spread over an area of 14 hectares of land. The university was constructed in the Kushana style of architecture, but the impact of the Pala dynasty is widely visible throughout. Past excavations suggest that a large part of the University is still unexcavated, but nowhere does it suggest that the whole site could have accommodated 10,000 students and 2,000 teachers.

The Hiuen Tsang Memorial Hall is said to have been built in the memory of Hiuen Tsang, a Chinese traveler who came to India in around 5th century AD. Hiuen Tsang was attracted by the glory of Nalanda University and stayed there for 12 years both as a student and as a teacher. He gave detailed and vivid description of the Indian political and social conditions of that time.

The Surya Mandir is a temple near the University dedicated to the Sun God. This temple has a number of statues of Hindu and Buddhist deities. A five feet high statue of Parvati is of particular interest.

The Nalanda museum was established in 1971 and has a good collection of ancient manuscripts and Buddhist statues. The manuscripts kept here were found during the excavation of the area and many of them are rare in appearance and style. The museum also displays artifacts of the Maurya, Gupta and other periods.

The Nav Nalanda Vihar was established in 1951 to keep the ancient tradition of spreading knowledge alive. The Bihar government has set up this institute that teaches Pali near the ancient university. In the institute Indian as well as foreign students study and do research work on Buddhism and Pali, which was a widely used language in the ancient times.

SITES NEARBY

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.

Bihar Sharif, 13 km away is the district headquarters and a center of Islamic architecture. The tomb of Malik Ibrahim Baya is situated here and an annual Urs is celebrated.

Bodh Gaya, the most important Buddhist pilgrimage center is around 50 km away from Nalanda. There is the 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 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.

WHERE TO STAY

There are some monasteries built by Buddhist countries and a government guesthouse where tourists can stay. Most of the good hotels are situated in the nearby tourist centers like Rajgir, Bodhgaya, and Gaya. Nalanda is usually a part of the day excursion trips organized by different travel companies from Patna. For those keen on exploring Nalanda, Patna is the most convenient base.

HOW TO REACH

By Air

The nearest airport from Nalanda is Patna around 89 km away. There are regular flights from Patna connecting to Calcutta, Delhi, Ranchi, Mumbai, Varanasi, Lucknow, and Kathmandu.

By Rail

Rajgir 12 km away is the nearest railway station from Nalanda. There are several passenger trains running between Rajgir and Patna daily. The nearest major railway point is Gaya around 65 km away, from where one can take trains for Delhi, Calcutta, Varanasi, and some of the major centers in eastern India.

By Road