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 Nalanda,
founded in the 5th century AD, is famous as the ancient seat of
learning. The ruins of the world's most ancient university lies here
which is 62 km from Bodhgaya and 90 km south of Patna. Though the Buddha
visited Nalanda several times during his lifetime, this famous center of
Buddhist learning shot to fame much later, during 5th-12th centuries.
Hieun Tsang stayed here in the 7th century AD and left detailed
description of the excellence of education system and purity of monastic
life practiced here. He also gave a vivid account of both the ambiance
and architecture of this unique university of ancient times. In this
first residential international university of the world, 2,000 teachers
and 10,000 monks students from all over the Buddhist world lived and
studied here. The Gupta kings patronized these monasteries, built in old
Kushan architectural style, in a row of cells around a courtyard.
Emperor Ashoka and Harshavardhana were some of its most celebrated
patrons who built temples, monasteries and viharas here. Recent
excavations have unearthed elaborate structures here. An International
Center for Buddhist Studies was established here in 1951. Nearby is
Biharsharif, where an annual urs is celebrated at the Dargah or tomb of
Malik Ibrahim Baya. Baragaon, 2 km away has a sun temple, famous for
Chhath puja. To be visited are Nalanda museum & Nava Nalanda Mahavihar
in addition to the great ruins.
General Information
:
- Altitude:
67 metres
-
Temperature (Max./Min.) Deg C: Summer
37.8/17.8 Winter 27.8/10.6
- Rainfall:120
cm (June to September)
- Best
Season: October to March
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