RAJGIR | A forgotten glory of India

Rajgir is one of the forgotten glories of India. The antediluvian Rajgriha, which translates as ‘the abode of Royalty’, was the capital of the ancient Magadh Empire until the 5th century BC when Udayin (460-440 BC), son of  Ajatshatru, moved the capital to Pataliputra, contemporary Patna.

Magadh was a kingdom that has witnessed the conspiracy of Mahabharat. The realm of Chanakya’s wisdom and Ashoka’s strength that has changed the atlas of asia. A land where the Nalanda University, a renowned university of the world was established where the students from the different part of the world dream to study.
Shishunaga founded Shishunaga dynasty in 413 BCE with Rajgriha (present day Rajgir) as its initial capital. Rajgir is also associated with Haryanka dynasty Kings Bimbisara and Ajatshatru.
With the time, once the capital of the legendary empire has been swathe under the soil and became
an anecdote of a forgotten history.

However, some remains of the historical ruins are still there that remind us the epic of those period.
Pandu Pokhar surrounded by five hills, is one of the trace of the Mahabharat era. Historians correlate the name of the Pandu Pokhar with the Mahabharat. Bihar tourism rejuvenated Pandu Pokhar and developed it as an amusement park to attract more tourists in Rajgir. The most attractivecomponent of Pandu Pokhar is a 30-feet statue of Maharaj Pandu.

It faces the International Convention Centre, the regal Vaibhav Giri mountain towards its right and
the Hostel of International Nalanda University falls on its left.
Vaibhav Giri is also considered to be historically rich. According to the text, the first Buddhist council was held here. Ancient Buddhist stupas and the temples are also situated atop of this mountain. The Vishwa Shanti Stupa is the tallest peace pagoda in the world. It houses four statues of the Lord Buddha; it is believed that he stayed at the Gridhkuta Hill as well.

Hot water springs, a sacred place for Hindus, locally known as Brahmkund is one of the famous place
to visit in Rajgir.
Some historical remains in Rajgir such as Jarasandh ki Baithak and Jarasandha ka Akhara ae still connected with the Jarasandh, the king of Magadh, in the time of the Mahabharat war.
Rejuvenation of the historical structures and International Nalanda University, which was established in 2014, creates a new dimension in the glory of Rajgir.