Sanchi (46 km): This ancient Buddhist site is a rounded hill, 46 km northeast of Bhopal. The Mauryan emperor Ashoka, who embraced Buddhism afterthe bloody Kalinga war, built many Buddhist monasteries and stupas including the Great Stupa at Sanchi. With Hinduism once again gaining momentum, the Buddhism site become a… Continue reading
Bhojpur’s massive and impressive 400 sq. km lake was destroyed by Hoshang Shah, ruler of Mandu in the early 15th century. However, the hilltop Bhojeshwar Temple managed to survive. This temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, is also called the Somnath of the north. It houses an unrefined 2.5 meter lingam…. Continue reading
Madhya Pradesh was India’s largest state geographically until November 1,2000, when Chhattisgarh was carved out. The state’s capital Bhopal came into the limelight after the Union Carbide gas leak disaster which claimed the lives of thousands in December 1984. Indore is the largest city and the commercial capital of the… Continue reading
Ranchi: This picturesque hill station is also the capital of Jharkhand. It was once the summer capital of Bihar during the British rule and is still full of old world colonial charm. It is of special interest to anthropologists as the Tribal Research Institute and museum is located here…. Continue reading
Introduction Jharkhand is situated on the Chotanagpur Plateau and is one of the three new states created in India in 2000. The state is known for its diverse wildlife, ebullient waterfalls, flora, fauna and amazing national parks. Jharkhand is an extremely mineral-rich state that has the potential to become the… Continue reading
Vaishali Situated on the left bank of the Gandak river, Vaishali enjoys the distinction of being the world’s first Republic state under the Lichchavi dynasty, even before the formation of the Republic of Greece. It is the birthplace of Lord Mahavira, the founder of Jainism, and the city where Buddha… Continue reading
Nalanda: Just 12 km from Rajgir, Nalanda was one of the ancient world’s great universities. Established in the 5th century AD, the university remained the greatest seat of learning for over 700 years and is mostly in ruins now. Nalanda is also popular as an important Buddhist centre. Chinese traveller… Continue reading
Surrounded by five rocky hills, Rajgir is located about 60 km southeast of Patna. It is the ancient capital of the Magadha kingdom. Rajgir is an important pilgrimage site for Buddhists and Jains. It has many tourist attractions like rock-cut caves, forts, Buddhist ruins, shell inscriptions, Hindu and Jain… Continue reading
Patna Museum: Also known as Jadu Ghar, the Patna Museum is one of the prime tourist attractions here. There is a wide collection of stone and bronze sculptures and terracotta figures of Hindu and Buddhist artists belonging to the ancient and medieval times. The most prized collection of this museum… Continue reading
| Introduction Bihar, known as the Land of Nirvana, lies along the fertile eastern Gangetic Plains in North India. The capital city, Patna is situated on the banks of the Ganga. The state got its name from the Sanskrit word Vihara. Bihar is the ninth largest state of India in… Continue reading