Welcome to Jharkhand...Pages from the Past

The state of Jharkhand is located in eastern India and came into existence in the year 2000 by reorganizing the southern regions of Bihar state. Jharkhand has common borders with Bihar in the north, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh in the west, Orissa in the south, and West Bengal in the east. Jharkhand is mainly an industrial state which is home to the Bokaro steel city. Jharkhand has all the important minerals which are necessary for the production of steel. Jharkhand can be split into three major districts - Bokaro, Ranchi and Singhbum. The districts are pretty small but they have some of the most important industrial sectors in India.The cultural mosaic of Jharkhand was dreamt about, shaped and polished by generations of communities, which have inhabited this land since time immemorial.Art historians ascribe the 'oldest cave paintings' in India, the "scroll paintings" to a Jharkhand tribe known as the Shabars, who today live on the edge of extinction. It is an established fact that Stone Age tools discovered in Hazaribagh district and axes and spearheads found in the Chaibasa area, are remnants of a civilization dating back a few thousand years. 10,000 to 30,000 years old rock paintings, paintings in huge caves in the Sati hills and other indicators of ancient, even pre-historic, human settlements are found in profusion.


Capital: Ranchi


Major Cities: Ranchi , Deogarh, Jamshedpur, Dhanbad, Bokaro, Hazaribagh, Giridih.


Location of Jharkhand in India:



Map of Jharkhand:

Chalte hain....

Bihar's antiquity is evident from its name, which is derived from the ancient word "VIHARA" (monastery). It is indeed a land of monasteries. Hindu, Buddhist, Jain, Muslim and Sikh shrines abound in this ancient land where India's first major empires rose and fell. Where the ruins of the worlds' earliest university slumbers in the void of time. The passage of Ganga, flowing wide and deep enrich the plains of Bihar. A land of  monastic university   flourished here from the 5th to the 11th century. It is said to have contained nine million books, with 2,000 teachers to impart knowledge to 10,000 students who came from all over the Buddhist world. Last but not least the pious land where Bodhgaya( where Lord Buddha attained enlightenment) and Mahabodhi Temple is located. Bihar certainly bears the heavy weight of history, but bears it with much sensitivity and awareness.Bihar's very colorful historical and religious traditions have given it a powerful architectural legacy.

Day 105 - Vaishali

Vaishali District in the state of Bihar, once the capital city of the Vajjian Confederacy, is one of the ancient cities and first republics of India as per records. The name of the city is also mentioned in the Mahabharata as well as in Buddhist and Jain epics. The name ‘Vaishali’ was derived from King Vishal of the Mahabharata age. Vaishali is also known as the land of the Buddha and the birthplace of Mahavir Jain (the founder of Jainism in India). The city is recognized as the place where Gautama Buddha gave his last preaching before his demise in 483 BC. Later, King Kalasoka convened a second council for making it as a hub for both Jain and Buddhist religions.Vaishali is surrounded by the Ganga in the south and the Gandak in the west. Muzaffarpur lies to its north and Samastipur in the east. Patna, the capital of Bihar, is linked with the famous Mahatma Gandhi Setu, to this city.  The district is spread over an area of 2036 km in the semi tropical Gangetic plain.Vaishali is renowned as a Buddhist pilgrimage spot. The ancient monuments and architectural work reveals the cultural importance of this city. The excavation work in this city has provided evidence of the Buddha’s life, when he visited this place several times to preach his doctrines.


How to reach here:

By Air: The closest airport is located in the nearby city of Patna.

By Rail: Trains cannot be taken directly to the town of Vaishali, as it does not have a major railway station. The railway station in Muzaffarpur is located near Vaishali.


Best time to visit: October to March.


Languages spoken: Hindi.


Must eat: Khubi ka Lai, Motichoor ka Ladoo ,Dahi vada.


Places you must visit:

The Bawan Pokhar Temple is an old temple of Vaishali. It is situated on the northern banks of Bawan Pokhar. It was built during the Pala period and comprises some significant images of several Hindu Gods.





Kutagarshala Vihara is situated at 3 km from the main town of Vaishali in Bihar. It was built by Licchavis for Sakhamuni and is also referred to as Buddha Stupa II. The premises of this vihara include remains of an ancient monastery along with an open courtyard and a verandah. There is also a story attached to this place where a monkey took the bowl of Lord’s alms and climbed a tree to fill it with honey. Then it offered that bowl to Lord Buddha which he accepted. Out of joy the monkey leaped from tree to tree and fell on the stump of one of the trees that existed in the same place where currently this vihara exists.

Abhishek Pushkarini, known also as the Coronation Tank. The Coronation Tank contains water that was believed to be sacred in the old days. All of Vaishali's elected representatives were anointed using the water from the tank before their swearing in during Licchavi rule.  

The Archaeological Museum of Vaishali was established in 1971 with the motive of preserving the antiquities found in Vaishali during excavations held  here. This museum has four galleries out of which the first gallery displays the terracotta items like human figurines, Naigamesha, plaque of Buddha, moulded bricks tiles, images of Bodhisattva and much more. The second gallery comprises of terracotta figures of animals like elephant, monkey, birds and others. along with figures of wheels, beads, rattles, dabbers and cast coins.Other items displayed in its third gallery include antler, bone, arrowheads and bangles as well as iron and copper implements like knife, nail and bell. Its fourth gallery comprises exhibits of earthen ware like bowls, miniature vessels, vase, lid bell, sprinkler, spout, lamp and inkpot.

Apart from the pillar of peace and the Ashoka Pillar, there are two more popular Buddha Stupas in the town of Vaishali. The first Buddha Stupa contains one eighth of the sacred ashes of Lord Buddha in a stone casket. However, its exteriors have a plain surface and are in a dilapidated condition. The second Buddha Stupa was discovered in the excavation held in the year 1958. This stupa also houses a casket containing ashes of Buddha.

The Raja Vishal’s Garh is an old fort of Vaishali, which is said to be an old parliament house. This fort is surrounded by a vast mound with a circumference as big as 1 km. Its height is 2 m and width is 43 m. It is said that around seven thousand representatives from the federal assembly used to gather here for holding meetings to discuss political matters.

Day 104 - Rajgir

The town of Rajgir is situated about 15 km from Nalanda in the state of Bihar. Being located in a valley, Rajgir is a very scenic place. The small hill grit town is covered with lush green forest which add to the beauty of the place. Rajgir was the capital of the Magadh Mahajanpad (State) when Patliputra was not formed. In those days it was called Rajgrih. Rajgir or Rajgrih means the home of Royalty. This place has been associated with Lord Buddha and Buddhism. Buddha not only spent many years in Rajgir but also delivered sermons here and proselytized emperor Bimbisar at the Griddhakoota hill. The Jivekarmavan monastery was the favorite residence for Buddha. Even Bimbisar gave Venuvan Vihar to Buddha for his residence. It is said that it was at Rajgir that physician treated Buddha, Jivak after he was injured by his cousin Devdatta.The teachings of Buddha was penned down at Rajgir and it was also the venue for the first Buddhist Council. Today Rajgir has come up as one of the most important pilgrimage for the Buddhist.


How to reach here:

By Air: The nearest airport is at Patna 101 km away.

By Rail: Though Rajgir itself has a railway station yet the nearest convenient rail head is at Gaya 78 km.


Places you must visit:


Jivaka Ambavana or Jivakarama Vihara is a part of the Jivakameavan Gardens of Rajgir City. Jivaka used to be a royal physician of the Magadh's rulers namely Bimbisara and Ajatshatru. The tales of his surgical tales have also been mentioned in several Buddhist texts.Jivaka was also a great follower of Lord Buddha and has also gifted him a mango garden. It is also said that Lord Buddha once came here to get his wound treated by Jivaka. This garden also comprises the ruins of a monastery. These ruins lie on the way to the ropeway station of Griddhakuta Hill.



Ancient 40 km wall , better known as the Cyclopean wall once encircled Rajgir. Built of massive undressed stone carefully fitted together, the wall is one of the few important Pre-Maurayan stone structures ever to have been found. Traces of wall still subsist, particularly at the exit of Rajgir to Gaya. This wall was constructed before the Mauryan rule.





Monastery Venuvana Vihara : When King Bimbisara heard that the Buddha had come to Rajgir with a retinue of one thousand Arahants, he went to the Sapling Grove to meet the Buddha and was converted by the Buddha, attaining the First Stage of Sainthood. Thereafter, he invited the Buddha to his palace for the following day’s meal, after which he donated the famous Bamboo Grove or Veluvana, the first donation of a park (arama), to the Buddha. The cemetery is believed to be the site of the Veluvana Vihara built by Bimbisara for the Buddha’s residence. The whole area has been cleaned up and Veluvana now looks like a pleasant park, planted with shade trees, bamboo and flowers, reflecting its original status as the royal park of King Bimbisara. In the vicinity of Veluvana is a large pond with a Buddha image at the centre. This pond is believed to be the site of the Karanda tank mentioned in Buddhist text as the Karanda kanivapa where the Buddha used to take his bath.





The Ghora Katora Lake is one of the popular picnic spots of Rajgir. The name of this lake suggests a bowl of horse. The site of this lake is believed to be the place where the stable of Jarasandha was situated. Jarasandha is a famous character from the Hindu mythological epic, Mahabharata.



The Griddhakuta Hill, also known as the hill of vultures, is the most renowned sightseeing attraction in Rajgir situated at an altitude of 400 m. This place is called the vulture peak due to its shape like vulture and also because it is frequently visited by large number of vultures. This hill is said to be the place where Lord Buddha lived for several years as well as preached the Lotus Sutra to convert the Mauryan King Bimbisara. Along with starting of second wheel of law, Lord Buddha also delivered some important sermons to his followers at this very peak.Here also exists a peace pagoda or Shanti Stupa, which is said to have been built by the Buddhists of Japan. There is also an old stone on the way to these hills, which is attributed to king Bimbisara. This stone was even used in the 7th century by the Hiuen-Tsang to reach this place. There are also rock-cut steps on these hills that lead to two natural caves, few plaques and a group of Buddhist Shrines. The caves here include a few Buddhist Statues and the area around it contains ruins of brick stupas.Aerial chairlift facilities are also available in the place to reach the top of this hill. This is a rope way that takes around 8 minutes to reach the hill and along the way it provides a view of the city of Rajgir. On these hills, there is also a village, which is encircled by a cyclopean wall. This wall consists of marks associated with Lord Krishna’s Chariot along with several other historical remains. There are also ruins of a small hut on the top of these hills that is said to have been built by Dhaniya, who was a potter’s son.



Hot springs are one of the most popular attractions of Rajgir city. These hot springs are situated at the foot of the Vaibhava Hills. The water of these springs comes from the Saptadhara, passing through the back side of Saptaparni Caves. The Brahmakund spring amongst these is considered to be the hottest one with a temperature of around 450 Celsius. At the site of these springs, a separate bathing area for men and women has also been provided.About this place, it is also said that its Tapoda rivulet of hot water was the water spring where even Lord Buddha and Lord Mahavira had taken bath. The water of these hot springs is also considered to have medicinal properties. At the foot of Vaibhava Hills there is also a staircase that leads to various small temples situated in its premises.



Situated near the Vaibhava Hill is a large rectangular stone known as the Jarasandha Ki Baithak. This place is considered to be a military outpost having cells that were used by the pickets as living quarters. Associated with this place, is another significant spot known as Ranbhoomi or Jarasandha's Akhara. This ‘Akhara’ used to be a wrestling arena where a legendary battle was held between Jarasandha and Bhima that lasted for over a month.The specialty of this place is that its soil is soft and white; however, most of it has vanished now after it has been carried by the wrestling enthusiasts that come here. There is also a 30 ft rock situated at this place. This rock is famous for two parallel cuts that are considered to have been marked by the chariot of Lord Krishna.



The Venu Vana Kalandakanivapa used to be the green house of King Bimbisara. The name of this park suggests a bamboo park. The specialty of this park is that it comprises a Buddhist Monastery, which Bimbisara built here in honour of Lord Buddha. The place also comprises a pond called Kalandakanivapa, which means feeding ground of squirrels or jays.




The Maniyar Math is situated in the middle of the valley of Rajgir, near the main road. This structure has been created in the shape of a stupa and has been provided shelter through a conical corrugated iron shade. It has been named after a small shrine that was discovered here in an excavation held at the site. The structure is a hollow stupa having stucco Buddha photos on its outer walls.The place is also considered to have remained a Hindu temple dedicated to snakes, as several statues of snake goddess are also seen here. Rajgir has also been referred to as the abode of Mani Naga, in the epic of Mahabharata.



The Saptaparni Caves are situated on the Vaibhava Hill and are said to be the place where the first Buddhist Council were held. This council was held here after six months after the 'Mahaparinirvana' of Buddha. This council was attended by over 500 monks and was led by Buddha's chief disciple namely Maha Kashyapa. A Magadha ruler named Ajatshatru also built a Sabha Mandap in front of these caves, which was used for this assembly.






The Shankhalipi inscriptions are seen engraved on a rocky terrain, in a site situated at 2 km from the Bimbisara jail. Near to these inscriptions, on a rock are also seen two parallel marks that are said to have been made here by the wheel of Lord Krishna’s Chariot. So, the area around it is believed to have remained a battle field for the fight between Jarasandha and Bhima or it was a training ground for Ajatshatru’s chariot warriors.





Sonabhandara Caves  in the southern scarp of Vaibhava Hills are two double storied caves, out of which the western caves are known as Sonabhandara or Swarna Bhandara Caves. These caves comprise black stone statues of first four Jain Tirthankars along with several statues of Lord Buddha. The name of these caves suggests a huge treasury of gold which has been given to it out of the belief that a large treasure of gold lies in their inner walls.It is said that both the caves in this place were carved out of a single massive rock. One of the chambers of these caves is believed to have been the guard room, whose doorway lead to King Bimbisara’s treasury. An inscription in Sankhlipi or shell script written on its walls is believed to give a clue for opening its doorway. The ancient treasury of Bimbisara is said to be still intact in the place.



The Vishwa Shanti Stupa is an ancient pillar or peace pagoda in Rajgir. This pillar is situated on top of Griddhakuta or Ratnagiri Hill, at an altitude of 400 m above the sea level. This pillar was built by the Japanese as a symbol of world peace. The structure is built completely in marble and comprises four golden statues of Lord Buddha with each representing his life periods of birth, enlightenment, preaching and death. The way to reach this ‘stupa’ includes an aerial ropeway. A temple is also situated near this Stupa called the ‘Nipponzan Myohoji’.







The Ajatshatru Fort is associated with Magadha’s ruler Ajatshatru. This fort was built by him in the 6th century BC. Near this fort, there is also a stupa spread in an area of 6.5 sq km. The ruins of the famous Cyclopean Wall are also seen around this place.



The Bimbisara Jail is situated on the southern side of Maniyar Math, on the main road. This Jail is the place where King Bimbisara was imprisoned by his son Ajatshatru, during his last days of life. This place was chosen by the king himself for his incarceration, as from here he could see Lord Buddha going up the Griddhakuta Hill for meditation. This jail also provides a panoramic view of the Japanese Peace Pagoda, on the hill.



Rajgir is home to 26 Jain temples that are situated on its hill crest. These temples are mainly popular amongst the Jain followers as the Buddhists. The way to reach the area is a tough terrain as well as a popular trekking route of the region.





Rajgir is also home to the Jarasandha Akhara of the mythological fighter of Mahabharata namely Jarasandha. Legends tell that at this place Bhima defeated Jarasandha in one of their duel fights.



Lauria Nandangarh is mainly famous for its lion pillar, built by Ashoka. This pillar is built from 8.5 m thick polished sandstone and has edict engravings on it. The place is also said to comprise the ashes of Lord Buddha.





The Chariot Route and hell inscriptions are worth a visit for the strangeness of the phenomenon, two parallel furrows cut deep into rock for about thirty feet giving credence to the local belief that they were "burnt" into the rock by the speed and power of Lord Krishna's chariot when he entered the city of Rajgir during the epic Mahabharata times. Several shell inscriptions, the undeciphered characters current in central and eastern India from the 1st to 5th centuries AD, and engraved in the rock around the chariot marks.

Day 103 - Nalanda

Nalanda, an ancient center for higher learning, is located around 55 miles south east of Patna in the state of Bihar. Nalanda is considered as one of the oldest and great universities in the world. Founded in the 5th century BC Nalanda was one of the world’s great universities and an important Buddhist centre until it was attacked by marauding Afghans in the 12th century.  The history of Nalanda dates back to the time of Lord Buddha and Mahavir. The place was named after the terms ‘Nalam’ meaning ‘Lotus’ and ‘da’ that means ‘to give’.There is also a fabulous legend behind the name Nalanda, which narrates how this village got its name. It goes like this that the place where the monastery was going to be constructed was the abode of a serpent and while digging the foundation the serpent got injured. The clairvoyants of that time observed that the monastery that would have been constructed in that place would be renowned for a long. Later this Monastery turned to be a great institution of knowledge, whose unparallel credentials gave it a unique seat in the entire history of the nation. Nalanda is also known as the birth place of a follower of Lord Buddha, named Sariputra. Lord Buddha is believed to have visited this place several times during his lifetime.The head quarter of knowledge and learning, Nalanda is renowned for a culture and tradition in ancient India.


How to reach here:

By Air: Lok Nayak Jayaprakash airport at Patna is the nearest airport, which is 78 km away from Nalanda.

By Rail: Rajgir is the nearest railhead to the place, which is about 12 kilometres away from Nalanda. The station is connected to the several cities of India.


Best time to visit: October to March.


Languages spoken: Hindi.


Must eat: Khaja, Kasar.


Famous Restaurant: Nalanda Book Cafe.


Places you must visit:

The Nalanda University was built in 5th century BC and is recorded as the earliest university of world. It is spread over an area of 14 hectares and has been built with red bricks in the Kushana architectural style. The favorite disciple of Lord Buddha namely Sariputra died preaching at this very place. In 3rd century BC, Ashoka built a grand stupa in honor of Sariputra. The infrastructure of Nalanda University has 3 to 6 storeys along with a college of fine arts endowed by the Gupta Emperor, Kumaragupta, a library comprising of a huge collection of over nine million volumes and 300 apartments. Rows of monasteries, hostels and classrooms form a large part of the structure of this university providing a strong impact of the Pala dynasty. It has a total of one thousand teachers and ten thousand students in its portals.The university used to house 10000 students and 2000 teachers and had dormitories for students according to their status. Somewhere among the ruins, there are also structures like stupas, monasteries, temples, chaityas, etc. Certain remains have also been excavated from the ruins of this university, which includes a stairway, decorated panels, stupas, dormitories of monks and students, lecture halls etc. The most significant monuments found from here are the monasteries and chaityas. Remains of a temple depicting household scenes, dancers and floral designs are also seen at the site of this university.

The Surya Temple also known as Surajpur Baragaon is another popular temple attraction of Nalanda situated near the Nalanda University. This temple is dedicated to the Sun God and the sun worship called the ‘Chhath Puja’ is held here twice every year in ‘Vaishakha’ and ‘Kartika’ months of Hindu calendar. This temple comprises idols of many Hindu gods and goddesses combined with some of the Buddhist deities. The main attraction at this temple is the five feet high idol of Goddess Parvati placed here.

Nav Nalanda Vihar also known as Nava Nalanda Mahavihara is a significant educational institute of Nalanda, which was set up in 1951 by the Bihar Government, near the Lotus Pond. This institute was established with the aim of bringing back the status of Nalanda as an educational institute. The main teachings of this institute include Pali language and aspects of Buddhism for Indian and foreign languages. Several research and studies are done by the Indian and foreign students at this university on Pali language and Buddhism. Foreign countries that are an active part of this institute include Sri Lanka, Japan, Korea, Tibet and Bhutan.

Bihar Sharif is a significant center of Muslim learning built in the 13th century. This place is the erstwhile capital of the Pala rulers and portrays the picture of a bustling town of a rich history. It also displays remains of medieval Islamic architecture of the Gupta empires in the form of numerous tombs and mosques.The most important attraction in the place is the tomb of Makhdum Shah Sharif-ud-din, who was a renowned Muslim saint. Due to this tomb, Bihar Sharif is also a popular Muslim pilgrimage center  Other attractions around this tomb include a Buddhist Vihara, a prison of the time of King Jarasandhan and few other shrines.

Kundalpur is the birthplace of the most famous disciple of Lord Mahavira namely Gutamswamiji. It is said that Lord Mahavira has visited this place several times to impart his religious teachings. This place was also a Buddhist monastery during the rule of King Kumar Gupta, between the years of 424 BC and 454 BC. It is also home to Kundalpur Teerth Temple, which is maintained by Shri Jain Shwetambar Bhandar.

The Hiuen Tsang Memorial Hall has been built in the memory of known Chinese Scholar, Hiuen Tsang. Hiuen Tsang is said to have resided in this very same place for over 12 years during his tour of India in the 7th century AD. He also studied yoga here under the guidance of Acharya Shil Bhadra.The architecture and grandeur of this hall provides a reminder of the Nalanda University. This memorial hall houses the famous writings of Hiuen Tsang that provides valuable information about medieval India. The writings present here have also formed the base of the educational set-up of Nalanda.

 

The Nalanda Archaeological Museum was established in 1971 and comprises the relics of the ancient Nalanda University. It provides an insight of the Pala Art, which is an example of the creative arts taught at the Nalanda University. Its sculptures showcase the attires, ornaments and societal features of the Pala Period. The sculptures, manuscripts, seals and statues portrayed here are regarded as the finest display of the people and culture of ancient Indian society.This complete museum is divided into four main galleries housing 13463 antiquities that have been excavated from 349 sites. Most of these artefacts date back to the time between 5th and 12th century AD and reflect Buddhist, Jain and Hindu ideologies. The statues kept in this museum are of stucco, bronzes, stone and terracotta, but majority are of Basalt stone. The main hall at this museum includes 16 sculptures of Trailokya Vijay, Maitreya, Buddha in Varad, Dharmachakra and Bhumisparsh postures, Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, Parshvanath and Nagaraj sculptures etc.Khasarpana, Vagesvari, miracle of Saraswati, Surya, Lakshmi, Ganesh, Shiva-Parvati, Kuber, Vaishali-miracle, Buddha in varad mudra and Rishabhanath are few of the 57 images and sculptures present in the first gallery of this museum.

The Stupa of Sariputra is one of the remarkable excavations present amongst the ruins of Nalanda University. Sariputra was the favourite disciple of Lord Buddha who became a celebrated Arhat after attaining salvation. The structure of this stupa has a pyramidal shape with towers above the whole complex. The entire site of this stupa is surrounded by pillared structures that provide a grand sight during the heydays of Nalanda.This stupa was a result of seven consecutive accretions and is protected by seven layers of constructions surrounding it. The corner looms and neighbouring stupas at the place are ornamented with niches of Bodhisattvas and different events of Buddha’s life.