Bihar
General Info
Of
all Indias states, Bihar is the one most intimately linked
to the Buddhas life, resulting in a trail of pilgrimages
which have come to be known as the Buddhist circuit. The very
name Bihar is derived from the world vihara, which
means Buddhist monastery. The Buddhist trail begins at the capital
city, Patna, where a noteworthy museum contains a collection of
Hindu and Buddhist sculptures. To the south of Patna is Nalanda
which translates as the place that confers the lotus
(of spiritual knowledge). A monastic university flourished here
from the 5th to the 11th century. Rajgir, the royal palace,
was the venue for the first Buddhist Council. The Buddha spent
five years at Rajgir after having attained enlightenment, and
many of the remains at Rajgir commemorate various incidents. Bodhgaya
is the spot where Lord Buddha attained enlightenment, with the
Mahabodhi Temple marking the precise location. Bihars Buddhist
circuit has modest back-up facilities by way of accommodation,
international dining and surface transport.
Since
the inception of its history which dates back to 500 year ago
Bihar has been recognized on cradle of movements in the field
of art, culture and religion literature & human rights a postles
of peace Lord Buddha, Mahavir, Great Guru Govind Singh and Mahatma
Gandhi and great sufie saint further heighened with the visit
of great chinese tourist Fahien, who has distinctly narrated the
attaintments of the University at that time took birth on this
land. It is the land on which the earliest seeds of democracy
took roots and however hossemed into the form of governence with
the advent of Lord, it withessed a cultural renaissance as in
the preachings of the Lord Buddha was seen the right answer to
the woos & suffering of the rest humanity at the hands of
loot, tyranny & boilance. People embraced Buddhism and the
echest holiest sermon Buddham Saranam Gachhami sent the air reached
beyond the boundaries of our country and seat of leaning at Nalanda,
where students outside the boundaries of our country joined the
course got acknowledged the world over. Lord Buddha delivered
his preachings at this place of learning. The glory of Nalanda
gate.
Bihar
has basked in the glory of Magadh Empire in the period of Mauryans,
Guptas and Pal, Vikramshila University, whose ruins speak of best
as this glorious deat of learning was constructed during Pal dynasty.
The
state of Bihar lies along the eastern Gangetic Plains in North
India, A land that has been the passing of many dynasties of ancient
India, Bihar has also been the birth place of two treat theologies
-Buddhism and Jainism. As a place of pilgrimage for centuries,
even the name Bihar is desired from 'Vihar' as a Buddhist monasteries,
Reflecting its ancient history, Bihar has some of the finest monuments
of Hindu and Mughal architecture. And through the state flows
the majestic river Ganga a saga of events of centuries old civilization.
The scenery and climate of the State range from the foot hills
of Himalayas, over the vast and fertile plains of the Ganga to
the hills, forests and wide plateau. The land and people, fairs
and festivals, arts and crafts, flora and fauna of Bihar, are
all epitomes of diversity, which enchant and thrill tourists.
Bihar
offers to tourists a variegated wealth of Indian Civilization,
history and culture compled with enqeuisite scenic beauties and
wild life within its precinet are located, places like Rajgir
and Patliputra, ancient capital of mighty magadhan empire, Vaishali-the
first republican state the world; Bodhgaya where lord Buddha attained
the suprime enlightenment, Nalanda-the great seat of international
learning and Patna Saheb-the birth place of Guru Govind Singh,
the last Guru of the Sikh.
Travel
Info:
By
Air: Bihar has airport at Patna connected to Delhi, Mumbai,
Lucknow, Calcutta, as well as Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal.
Indian Airlines and Sahara Airways have direct flights between
Patna and Delhi.
By
Rail: The state has a well-developed railway network with
almost all the major and minor places connected through good trains.
Major railway stations like Patna, Muzaffarpur and Gaya are connected
to all the major cities of India by regular trains.
By
Road: There is good network of roads connecting all the major
parts of the state with Patna, the state capital. National Highways
like 2, 23, 28, 30, 31, and 33 connect the state to places all
over India. The distance of some of the major places in the state
from Patna are Sonepur 25 km, Vaishali 55 km, Nalanda 90 km, Gaya
97 km, Bodhgaya 110 km, and Ranchi 289 km.