2013 Vacation: India / Bihar / Golden Triangle Nalanda-Rajgir-Pawapuri.

2013 Vacation: India Trip

My 2013 trip to India was mostly family visit.
My parents as well as my in-laws had their 5oth Wedding Anniversary!
Most of the time was spent at home with relatives.
Tourism was secondary. But did find some time to see a few places.

Golden Triangle: Nalanda-Rajgir-Pawapuri.
Trip to Vaishali
Trip to Bodh Gaya

June 25, 2013: Trio of the Golden Triangle: Nalanda-Rajgir-Pawapuri

Ruins of Nalanda University

FIRST STOP: RUINS of NALANDA UNIVERSITY

Nalanda University – founded in 400s CE – was the world’s first great international university. It was and also the first known university with dormitories for its students. Its library soared nine stories into the sky. The university had about 2,000 teachers and 10,000 monk-students from around the Buddhist world, who studied and lived here. The courses included the study of scriptures of Buddhism, Brahminical vedic texts, philosophy, logic theology, grammar, astronomy, mathematics and medicine. The university had eight separate compounds and a large number of class rooms and meditation halls.

The current excavation site spreads across 14 acres of land. It is only about 10% of the actual area over which the university was spread.

NOTE: July, 2016: The ruins of the ancient Nalanda university have been declared a World Heritage Site [WHS] by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization [UNESCO].

Central Courtyard which was a Lecture Hall with raised platform for teacher, a shrine in the center and surrounded by dormitories / Ruins of Nalanda University

Temple I: Central Courtyard which was a Lecture Hall with raised platform for teacher, a shrine in the center and surrounded by dormitories / Ruins of Nalanda University

I have to repeat this..
Nalanda University is the first known university with dormitories for its students.
The video below give some idea of the earliest known dormitories anywhere in the world..

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Temple 3: Stairways, Stupas and Shrines / Ruins of Nalanda University

Temple 3/ Ruins of Nalanda University

Temple 3 – This temple is the most imposing structure, compared to the others spread around. It was constructed in seven different phases. Contrary to the general scheme of other temples at this site, this temple is facing north. The pedestal atop once contained a colossal image, probably of Buddha. A large number of votive stupas and miniature shrines have been added around this temple by the devotees, at different points of time.

SECOND STOP: RAJGIR

Rajgir literally means “abode of kings”. It was the capital of Magadha Empire which flourished in the 6th century BC. It is closely associated with Hindusim, Buddhism and Jainism. Not only does it has some beautiful places of worship, Rajgir also has health resort with its Hot Water Springs.
We made three stops in Rajgir: Hot Water Springs, World Peace Pagodo [reached by chairlift aerial ropeway], and Sonbhandar caves.

Stairways leading to the Rajgir Hot Water Spring

Stairways leading to the Hot Water Springs / Rajgir

RAJGIR: HOT WATER SPRINGS.

Rajgir is famous for Hot Water Springs. The Saptparni cave is the source of the Rajgir Hot Water Springs. These have curative properties, likely due to the sulfur. Here, hot water from seven different springs (together called Saptarshi, or seven sages) merge. These are at the foot of Vaibhava Hill. A staircase leads up to the various temples. The hottest of the springs is the Brahmakund with a temperature of 45 degree Centigrade.

However, our experience at this place was not good at all. The pandas seem to have taken a control over the place and they were not the best people to come across. I am sorry, I have no good words for the pandas at the Hot Water Springs of Rajgir. They just seemed to pounce on us to get money for performing religious rites we did not intend to. Every place we moved they followed us. It was not good at all!!! They just spoilt our trip!

Hot Water Springs / Rajgir

Rajgir chair-lift aerial ropeway to Ratnagiri hilltop to view the World Peace Pagoda.

RAJGIR: CHAIR LIFT AERIAl ROPEWAY

An aerial ropeway provides the link with a hill-top Vishwa Shanti Stupa [World Peace Pagoda] and the monasteries built by Japanese devotees atop the Ratnagiri hills. The Rajgir chair-lift aerial ropeway is said to be the oldest ropeway in the country. It was donated by famous Japanese monk Fuji Guruji. The first person to ride on this ropeway was Loknayak Jaya Prakash Narayan!!! Presently it is said to be the biggest revenue- generating unit of the Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation (BSTDC). There are talks of commissioning of the new ropeway. The new ropeway would have cabins which would accomodate several persons, as against the existing chair-lift ropeway, which can accommodate only one person. Once new one is installed, the old one will be given the heritage status on the pattern of the famous toy train of Darjeeling.

Chair-lift aerial ropeway to Ratnagiri hilltop to view the World Peace Pagoda / Rajgir.

World Peace Pagoda / Rajgir

RAJGIR: VISHWA SHANTI STUPA / WORLD PEACE PAGODA

or the World Peace Pagoda was built in 1969, by Japanese as a symbol on world peace. It is built on top of the Ratnagiri Hills. It is one of the 6 peace pagodas in India, and 80 peace pagodas in the world. It’s built to spread the message of peace and non-violence. 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. A temple is also situated near this Stupa called the ‘Nipponzan Myohoji’.

Japanese-built Viswa Shanti or World Peace Pagoda Peace has four gold statues
– one on each side – recall the Buddha’s birth, enlightenment, teachings and death.

World Peace Pagoda / Rajgir

Rajgir: Sonbhandar caves

RAJGIR: SONBHANDAR CAVES.

“Sonbhandar” – literally means gold treasure. Sonbhandar caves is at Rajgir, in Nalanda district. Legend has it that these caves still hide a passage to the treasury of gold of King Bimbisara. There are two cave chambers. These two chambers are hollowed out of a single massive rock. It is believed that one of the chambers has been the guard room with a doorway that leads to King Bimbisara Treasury [which is believed to be still intact]. The second chambers has many etchings into the wall.

Rajgir: Sonbhandar caves / First Chamber with a doorway that leads to King Bimbisara Treasury.

Rajgir: Sonbhandar caves / Second Chamber: Etchings into the wall

THIRD and FINAL STOP: PAWAPURI

PAWAPURI LOTUS TANK and WATER TEMPLE: Lord Mahavira, the final Tirthankar and founder of Jainism, breathed his last at this place, and was cremated here around 500 B.C. It is said that the demand for his ashes was so great that a large amount of soil was removed from around the funeral pyre, creating the water tank. A marble temple, the “Jalmandir” [Water Temple], was later built in the middle of the tank, and is now a major pilgrimage spot for Jains. Another Jain temple called Samosharan is located here.