Nalanda,
where ruins of the great ancient university have been
excavated, is situated at a distance of 90 km. south 
east of
Patna. It falls on way to Rajgir.
Founded in the 5th centuary A.D. by the Gupta emperors. There
were 1000 of students and teachers. The courses of atudy
included scriptures of Buddhis, Vedas, Hetu Vidya etc. the
university received royal patronage of the great emperor
Harshavardhana of Kannauj and also Pala Kings. It was a great
centre of learning and students from foreign countries were
also attracted to this university.
Hiuen Tsang stayed here in 7th century and has left detailed
description of the excellence of education and purity of
monastic life practiced here. An international Centres for
Buddhist Studies was established here in 1951.
General information
|
Altitude
|
67
meters
|
|
Rainfall
|
120
cm (June to September)
|
|
Best
Season
|
October
to March
|
|
Temperature
|
Summer-
Max. 37.8, Min. 17.8; Winter-Max.27.8, Min.10.6
|
|
STD
Code
|
061194
|
How
to get there
Air
The
nearest airport is at Patna 89 km. Connected to Calcutta,
Ranchi, Bombay, Delhi and Lucknow
Rail
Though
Rajgir (12 km) is the nearest railway station to Nalanda yet
the nearest convenient railheadis at Gaya 65 km.
Road
Nalanda
is connected by good road with Rajgir 12 km, Bodh Gaya 50 km,
Gaya 65 km, Patna 90 km, Pawapuri 26 km, Bihar Sharif 13 km
etc.
In
and around
The
Nalanda University Complex
The
total area of the excavation is about 14 hectors. All the
edifices are of red brick and the gardens are beautiful. The
buildings are divided by a central walkway that goes south to
north, the monasteries are east of this central alley and the
temples of 'Chaiyas' to the west.
Nalanda
archeological museum
Opposite the entrance to the ruins of the university and
houses, it has a small but beautiful collection of Buddhist
and Hindu bronzes and a number of undamaged statues of the
lord Buddha that were found in the area.
Lauria
Nandangarh
This site, 23 km from Bettiah and 14 km from Shikarpur, has
the famous lion pillar erected by Ashoka. The 8.5 m polished
sandstone column also has an edict engraved on it. Nearby
there are the remains of Nandangarh Stupa, believed to contain
the ashes of the Buddha.
Hieun
Tsang memorial hall
A new construction in memory of the great Chinese traveller,
Hieun Tsang
