Rajgir

House of the king

Rajgir, which means 'house of the king', was the ancient capital
city of the Magadha kings until the 5th century BC when Ajatashatru
moved the capital to Pataliputra. In those days, it was called
Rajgrih, which translates as the home of Royalty.

Jarasandha who hailed from this place had defeated Krishna
18 times because of which Krishna is also called 'ranchhod' (person
who runs away from fight). Mahabharata recounts a wrestling match
between Bhima, one of the pandavas, and Jarasandha, the then king of
Rajgir. Jarasandha was invincible as his body could rejoin any
dismembered limbs. According to the legend, Bhim split Jarasandha
into two and threw the two halves facing opposite to each other so
that they could not join. There is a famous Jarasandha's Akhara(place
where you practice martial arts).

It is sacred to the memory of the founders of both the religions:
Buddhism and Jainism. It was here that Gautam Buddha
spent several months meditating, and preaching at Griddhkuta, (‘Hill
of the Vultures'). He also delivered some of his famous sermons and
converted King Bimbisara of Magadha and countless others to his
religion.

Rajgir is a city and a notified area in Nalanda district in
the Indian state of Bihar. The city of Rajgir (ancient Rajagriha) was
the first capital of the kingdom of Magadha, a state that would
eventually evolve into the Mauryan Empire. Its date of origin is
unknown, although ceramics dating to c. 1000 B.C. have been found
there. The epic Mahabharata calls it Girivraja.

Rajgir

Rajgir, which means 'house
of the king', was the ancient capital city of the Magadha kings until
the 5th century BC when Ajatsatru moved the capital to Pataliputra.
Forty-six km from Bodhgaya, the town is sacred to the memory of the
founders of both Buddhism and Jainism and houses historical remains
like the cyclopean wall and marks engraved in rocks.



Rajgir
is an important Buddhist pilgrimage site since the Buddha spent 12
years here, and the first Buddhist council after the Buddha was
hosted here at the Saptaparni caves. Lord Buddha often went into
retreat at the Jivkamaravana monastery in a beautiful orchard. One of
his most devoted and prosperous devotees, surgeon Jivaka also lived
here. The rich merchant community here soon became the Buddha's
followers and built many structures of typical Buddhist architecture.



Lord Buddha converted the Mauryan king Bimbisara, one of his
most celebrated followers, to Buddhism at the Griddhakuta hill, where
he delivered many of his sermons as well. The Japanese have built a
Stupa on top of the Ratnagiri hill, linked by a rope way. It was here
that the teachings of Buddha were penned down for the first time.
Rajgir is also an important place of pilgrimage for the Hindus and
Jains. Other places to be visited are Bimbisara ka jail, Jarasandha
ka akhara, Venuvana, Karand tank, Maniyar math, Swamabhandar cave,
Pippala cave, Viswa Shanti Stupa, the famous hot water springs and
ruins of an old fort.



Location and History

The
Buddha lived in the sixth century BC Mahavir was born in 567 BC and
the traveller in Bihar will encounter them both constantly. Rajgir is
10 kms. south of Nalanda and sacred to the memory of the founder of
both Buddhism and Jainism Lord Buddha spent many months of retreat
during the rainy season here, and use to meditate and preach on
Groddhkuta, the "Hill of the Vultures". Lord Mahavir spent
14 years of his life at Rajgir and Nalanda.



It was in Rajgrih
that Lord Buddha delivered some of his famous sermons and converted
king Bimbisara of the Magadh Kingdom and countless others to his
creed. Once a great city, Rajgir is just a village today, but
vestives of a legendary and historical past remain, like the
cyclopean wall that encircles the town and the marks engraved in rock
that local folklore ascribes to Lord Krishna's chariot. This legend,
like many others, associates Rajgir to that distant time when the
stirring events recorded in the epic Mahabharat were being inacted.

Pilgrimage
Attractions of Rajgir

• Griddhakuta or Vulture's Peak
  
  This
  was the place where the Lord Buddha set in motion his second
  wheel of law and for three months every year during the rainy
  season, Preached many inspiring sermons to his disciples. The
  Buddha Sangha of Japan have constructed a massive modern stupa,
  the Shanti Stupa (Peace Pagoda), at the top of the hill in
  commemoration. A bridle path leads up to the hill but it is much
  more fun to take the Aerial Chairlift which operates every day
  except Thursday. One way ride takes 7.5 minutes and the view is
  splendid over the hills of Rajgir.
  

  
  
  
  




• Jain Temples
  
  On hill crests around
  Rajgir, far in the distances one can see about 26 Jain temples.
  They are difficult to approach for the untrained, but make
  exciting trekking for those in form.
  

  
  
  
  



• Hot Springs
  
  At the foot of the
  Vaibhava Hill. A staircase leads up to the various temples.
  Separate bathing places have been organised for men and women and
  the water comes through spouts from Saptadhara, the seven
  streams, believed to find their source behind the "Saptaparni
  Caves", up in the hills. The hottest of the springs is the
  Brahmakund with a temperature od 45 degree Celsius.
  

  
  
  



• Pippala Cave
  
  Above the hot springs on
  the Vaibhava Hill, is a rectangular stone sculpted by the forces
  of nature which appears to have been used as a Watch tower. Since
  it later become the resort of pious hermits, it is also called
  Pippala Cave and popularly known as "Jarasandha ki Baithak"
  after the name of the King Jarasandha, a contemporary of Lord
  Krishna described in the epic Mahabharat.
  

  
  
  
  



• Venuvana
  
  Site
  of the monastery Venuvana Vihar built by King Bimbisara for Lord
  Buddha to reside. This was the King's first offering to Lord
  Buddha.
  

  
  
  
  

Patna Sahib

Location : Patna Famous For : The Birthplace Of Guru Govind
Sahib Built In : 1839 Houses : Takht Sri Harmandir Sahib