Rajgir Buddhism, Guide to Buddhism in Rajgir, Buddhist Pilgrimage in Rajgir India

Rajgir, which means 'the royal palace', is a place of great sanctity and significance for the Buddhists and Jains. Lord Buddha had delivered many of His sermons over here during His 12-years stay at Rajgir or Rajgriha. Situated 100 kilometers southeast of Patna, the state capital of Bihar, the city of Rajgir is also famous for health and winter resort with its warm water ponds.

General Information

Country : India
State : Bihar
Location : Southern Bihar.74 kilometers from Bodhgaya and 100 kilometers from Patna.
Climate Winter : Cold and Pleasant; Summer - Hot; Monsoon - Warm
Significance : Lord Buddha spent 12 years in Rajgir.
Languages : English, Hindi and Magahi(a regional language).
Must Eat in Rajgir : The famous 'Khaja'(a sweet) of Rajgir.
Buddhist Festival in Rajgir : Buddha Jayanti in the month of May.
Other Festivals in Rajgir : Malamasa Mela, Makar Sankranti and Rajgir Dance Festival.

Major Buddhist Attractions

Griddhakuta or Venture's Peak : The peak is a sacred site for the Buddhists as at this place, the Lord Buddha set in motion His second wheel of law and preached sermons to his disciples for three months in the rainy season. The peak also owns a massive modern Stupa, the Shanti Stupa, built by the Buddhist Sangha of Japan.
Venuvana : Venuvana Vihar is a historical and sacred monastery that was built by King Bimbisara for the Lord Buddha to reside.
Sattapani Caves : A sacred site where the first Buddhist council was convened in 483 BCE soon after the Buddha's death.
Jivika Mango Garden : This is the site of the royal dispensary, where Lord Buddha was brought to have a dressing of His wounds by the royal physician, Jivaka during the reign of Bimbisara.
Karnada Tank : Karnada tank is a sacred Buddhist site as it was here Lord Buddha used to have a bath.
Buddha's sculpture : The sculpture which depicts the 'Mahaparinirvana' or the 'great cessation' of the Buddha is another sacred Buddhist site. It shows the Buddha lying on His right side with the right forearm resting under His head to commemorate the final salvation or 'Mukti'.

Other Attractions

Hot Springs : Situated at the foot of the Vaibhava hill, the hot springs are filled with water coming from the seven streams or Saptadhara and believed to have a medicinal value. The springs flow out through several ceramic pipes set into the wall in a hall, where people can sit under it and have a bath, along with a a dip in the flowing spring.
Bimbisara Jail : Bimbisara jail is the spot, which was chosen by a devoted Mauryan Buddhist king Bimbisara (558 BCE - 491 BCE) to spend his last days. From this place, he could see the Buddha climbing up the Grihakuta hill to concentrate or meditate.
Pippala Cave : The Pippala cave is a natural cave or rather a rectangular stone located on the Vaibhava hill above the Hot springs and is also known as 'Jarasandha Ki Baithak'.
Jain Temples : Along with Buddhism, Jainism had also got patronage from the Mauryan kings. Bimbisara, who protected Buddhism in his state, was also friend of Mahavira, and so, gave protection to Jainism as well. Therefore, we find 26 Jain temples on the hill at Rajgir, some of which even dates back to the 5th century BCE.
Maraka Kushi : Maraka Kushi is a site, where the unborn foetus of Ajatashatru was cursed as patricide.
Ajatashatru's Fort : The Ajatashatru's fort is another place of tourist attraction. It was built by a Mauryan ruler Ajatashatru in the 6th century BCE.
The Swarna Bhandar : The Swarna Bhandar or the King Bimbisara's treasury, is another major tourist spot in Rajgir. Two cave chambers were hollowed out of a single massive rock, one of which is believed to have been the guards' room. The rear wall or the doorway which has two straight vertical lines and one horizontal line cut into the rock, is supposed to lead to king Bimbisara's treasury. The inscriptions etched on the wall in Sankhalipi or shell script could not be deciphered yet and considered to be the clue to open the golden treasury.
Lakshmi Narayan Mandir : Dedicated to the Hindu God Vishnu and His consort, Goddess Lakshmi, the Lakshmi Narayan temple is a pink-hued temple and stands beside the hot springs.

Nearby Buddhist Attractions

Bodhgaya : Bodh Gaya, one of the major holy places for the Buddhists, is just 46 kilometers away from Rajgir. It was at Bodh Gaya where Siddhartha Gautama got enlightenment under the Bodhi tree and became Lord Buddha.
Nalanda : Nalanda, the home to the famous ancient learning centre, Nalanda University or the Buddhist monastery is merely 15 kilometers away from Rajgir.

Shopping
Some of the best buys in Rajgir are the local handicraft items, Religious Buddhist items, such as bells, statues, incense Sticks and beads.

How to Reach

Airways - The nearest airport is at Patna, the state capital of Bihar, 100 kilometers from Rajgir. The Patna airport is connected by both International and Domestic flights, from where one can either take a train to Rajgir or can even opt for the roadways.

Railways - Rajgir can also be reached by train as the nearest railhead is at Bakhtiyarpur on the Delhi-Howrah main line. From Bakhtiyarpur, one can reach Rajgir by road, 54 kilometers away. However, a loop line connects Bakhtiyarpur to Nalanda, 15 kilometers from Rajgir.

Roadways - Rajgir is connected by an excellent road to Patna(100 km) as well as to Bodh Gaya(46 km) and so, can be reached by a bus, coach or a private taxi or car.