Rajgir is an ancient city in the northeastern part of the state of Bihar and surrounded by hills. It has rich historical importance and a religious place for the Buddhists and the Jains as the place is believed to be associated with Mahavir and Gautam Buddha. Apart from this, the city also has royal importance and the relics in this location are a witness of the ancient times.
How to reach Rajgir
The nearest airport is in Patna, which is about 64 km away from Rajgir and Gaya Airport is 52 km away from this location. Various trains connect to the Rajgir railway station. Given below train timings of howrah and sealdah to rajgir – you may check them before booking tickets.
Howrah to Rajgir trains and Sealdah to Rajgir trains.
Top places to explore in Rajgir
Ajatshatru Fort
This fort was built by King Ajatshatru of Magadha during the 6th century and the time of Gautam Buddha. The stupa in this fort is also called Ajatshtrau Stupa spreading across an area of 6.5 sq m. The colossal size of the stone tower and the high wall depicts the architectural beauty of the fort and it is believed that Lord Buddha stayed here during its construction.
Bimbisara Jail
The Bimbisara jail is situated within the Ajatshatru Fort and the legends say that King Ajatshatru kept his father Bimbisara in prison after he became the king. Situated at the south of the Maniyar Math, it is surrounded by stone pillars and high walls. It is also believed that King Bimbisara decided to stay here in a small room inside the prison during his last days as he could see Lord Buddha who resided in the fort while going to Girdhkut Parvat for meditation. From the jail, you can get an amazing view of the Peace Pagoda.
Vishwa Shanti Stupa
This is a popular site of Buddhist religion and situated on the Ratnagiri Hill and constructed to promote the message of peace. The golden statues of Buddha depict four phases of his life and built by a Japanese monk. It is considered as a symbol of harmony and peace.
Jain Temples
Rajgir is also known to be center of pilgrimage for the followers of Jainism and the Jain temples surrounding the city of Rajgir bear a testimony to this fact. The Digambar Jain Siddha Kshetra Temples are widely known and the eight temples are located on the hills surrounding the city of Rajgir. Apart from these eight temples, two other Jain temples are situated in the valley. Lal Mandir is a beautiful structure made from red and white stone and situated in the Udaigiri Hills.
Venu Vana
Venu Vana is the bamboo forest gifted to Lord Buddha by the Magadha King Bimbisara and believed to be one of the preferred places where Buddha loved to stay. The big pond in the middle of Venu Vana is believed to be the bathing place of Lord Buddha and enhances the beauty of the surrounding greenery. The tranquility and the serenity of the place make it a favorite for the tourists.
Cyclopean Walls
The 40 km long walls encircling the city of Rajgir were made from raw stones during the Mauryan period for marking the capital. Although the wall has lost its old glory, tourists throng here in large numbers to get an idea of the ancient stone structure.
Hot springs
With an abundance of hot springs in Rajgir that are known to be sacred for the Hindus Jains, and Buddhists, the springs are also known to have medicinal values. The most sacred is the Saptarni cave source of hot spring and the other hot spring in Brahmakund is famous as the temperature of the water is about 45 degrees Centigrade.
As a sacred city for the three most important and prominent religions in India, the ancient glory of this city bring several tourists to this destination every year.
Rajgir is a noted platform and known for its ancient tagline. The nearest airport over here is Patna, along with some promising train and road routes available for the masses. This place is known for its wide ranges of forests, temples and what not! So, if this is your first timer ever visiting Rajgir, then you might want to check out the places you have to visit and cannot miss. Well, those options are Ajatshatru Fort, Bimbisara Jail, Vishwa Shanti Stupa, Jain Temples, Venu Vana, Cyclopean Walls and more. Furthermore, you can take a day off and relax at Hot springs for memorable experience.
If the history and heritage of the city of Rajgir attracts your mind, you may like to read about beautiful places around Ranchi.