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 temples and Muslim tombs. Rajgir is well- connected to other parts of Bihar and eastern India through the railway and roads. Rajgir Mahotsava is the town’s three-day cultural festival, celebrated on October 24-26, exhibiting Indian classical and folk music and dance.
m How to get there Rajgir is well connected to Patna (102 km), Nalanda (12 km) and Gaya (34 km) by a good network of roads, which are in turn networked to major cities in eastern India. Rajgir has a railway station of its own, which is linked to Gaya. Many important trains pass through Rajgir enroute to Gaya. The most convenient airport to reach Rajgir is Patna.
Regular flights connect Patna to cities like Delhi and Mumbai.
Places of interest Saptkarni caves: The Saptkarni caves situated on the Vaibhava hill was the venue of the first Buddhist Council. The Saptkarni cave is also the source of the Rajgir hot Sulphur springs, which is sacred to Hindus. The water is believed to have curative properties. Brahmakund is the hottest spring (45°C). Vishwashanti Stupa: This 40 meter high white washed Stupa, built by Japanese Buddhists is located atop the Ratnagiri Hill, 5 km south of the town. Recesses in the stupa highlight statues of Buddha in the four stages of his life – birth, enlightenment, preaching and death. Although the top can be reached by climbing along a bridle path, the aerial chairlift is far more exciting.
Griddhakuta (Vultures Peak): While walking back down from the Ratnagiri hill, you can take a diversion to see Griddhakuta, the place where Buddha preached to his disciples.
Other places of interest: Ajatshatru’s Fort (6 km), Swarna Gufa (6 km) and Lakshminarayan Temple Complex (2 km).
AROUND RAJGIR Bodh Gaya:The village of Bodh Gaya, around 34 km off Rajgir, is the place where Prince Siddhartha Gautama got enlightenment, 26 centuries ago. Major tourist attractions here are the Maha Bodhi Temple, the original Bodhi or pipal tree, under which Siddhartha attained enlightenment, and monasteries built by Buddhist countries. The temple has a 54 meter high pyramidical spire and an ornamental archway at the entrance. Pilgrims from across the globe come here to study and meditate. From October to March, Bodh Gaya is visited by Tibetan pilgrims from Dharamsala and the area becomes a sea of maroon robes.