Vaishali
About 55 km. north of Patna by road across
the Ganga, lays this place, the site of the oldest republic
of the world, the Lichchvis. Vaishali is the birth place of
Lord Mahavira, the most prominent Jam Tirthankar. He was born
here in 527 B.C. Lord Buddha preached his last sermon here and
Emperor Ashoka erected a Lion Column to commemorate the occasion.
Maner
About 30 km. west of Patna lies Maner,
famous for its two Muslim shrines. The Sufi Saint, Hazrat Makhdoom
Yahiya Maneri is buried here in Badi Dargah. This is the most
secred Muslim shrine in Bihar. The other one is Choti Dargah
or Daulat Shah’s Tomb which is one of the finest mausoleums
of the Eastern India. It is a magnificent domed structure with
four twelve-sided minarets in its flanks.
Sonepur: The Harihar
Kshetra
On the confluence of Ganga and Gandak,
about 65 km. from Patna. Sonepur is famous as a Hindu pilgrimage
centre and for the big cattle fair held - here annually in the
month of Kartika (end of Oct.). The area is also known Harihara
Kshetra, symbolizing the unity of the two prime sects of the
Hindu The Vaishnava and the Shaiva. The. unity is consecrated
in the Hariharna: Temple where the idols of Hari (Vishn. and
Hara (Shiv) are installed here.
Gaya
About 92 km. south of Patna lay Gaya, a
great centre of Hindu Pilgrimage. It is second only to Varana
in sanctity. For the funeral rites of the Hindus this is the
ultimate place. The centre of pilgrimage is the Vishnupad Temple,
believed to have been built over the foot prints of Lord Vishnu.
Bodh Gaya
About 105 km. from Patna and 15 km. south
of Ganga is Bodh Gaya. It wis here that Gautam the Buddha attained
enlightenment sitting under die Bodhi tree (a peepal tree).
The Bodhi tree which is still there is said to be the direct
descendant of the original tree. This is one of the four greatest
places of Buddhist pilgrimage to which the devout Buddhists
from all over the world congregate. The Mahabodhi Temple is
the prime place of importance here.
Nalanda
Once a great sea of learning, Nalanda the
world’s earliest university came in to prominence in the
5th centurs and remained so until a thousand years ago when
the Muslim invaders sacked it. Hiuen Tsang, the famous Chinese
pilgrim traveler visited this great temple of learning in the
7th century and spent about 12 years both as a student and a
teacher. The ruins of Nalanda lie 90 km. south of Patna. The
sprawling remains carefully excavated include the Great Stupa
with a large stair-way and terraces, huge assembly halls, decorated
panels, dormitories, image of Buddha and many other votive stupas.
An international Centre for Buddhist Studies was set up in 1951.
The New Nalanda Mahavihar has a number of rare Buddhist manuscripts.
Rajgiri
About 15 km. south of Nalanda and 102 km.
south east of Patna, lies Rajgir known as Rajgriha or Girivraja
in the ancient Sanskrit texts. Lord Buddha preached here and
so did Lord Mahavira, The first Buddhist Council following the
Mahaparinirvana of Buddha, was held here at Satparni Cave. Rajgiri
is also noted for its hot springs at the foot of Vaibhara Hill.
The mineral water of these springs is highly prized owing to
its curative properties. The magnificent Vishwa Shanti Stupa,
built by the Japanese Buddha Sangh atop Ratangiri Hill, is linked
with an aerial ropeway chair lift. The chair lift carries the
visitors from the foot of the hill to the top. Other places
of interest include Maniyar-Math, Jarasandh-ka-Akhara, Griddhakuta
and ruins of an ancient fort and the massive cyclopian walls.
Pawapuri
Eighty km. east of Patna on Patna Ranchi
highway and 38 km. from Rajgiri is Pawapuri, a great Jam pilgrimage
centre. It was here that Vardhman Mahavir, the great Jain Tirthankar
breathed his last here after spending his last days. Here by
delivered his last sermon. Pawapuri is also called Apapuri or
“the sinless town”. At the death of the Great Master
hundreds of thousands of his devotees came to Pawapari, took
the ashes and the dust as blessings of the Master. The result
was the creation of a beautiful tank. In the centre of this
Lotus Tank, a beautiful, white marble shrine was constructed
to consecrate the Nirvana of Mahavira. The shrine is also known
as Jalmandir. The Samosharan Temple marks the sacred spot where
Mahavira had delivered his last sermon.
Parasnath
The 1,366 meter high sacred hill of Parasnath
is about 80 km. north east of Hazaribagh and 20 km. from Dumrion
Grand Trunk Road. The 23rd Jam Tirthankar, Sri Parasvanath attained
nirvan here. It is also known as Samet Shikhar. It is sacred
both to the Digambar and the Swetamber followers of the Jain
Temple.
Sasaram
About 100 km. from Patna, on the main Grand
Trunk Road, lies Sasararn, the seat of the Afghan Ruler Sher
Shah Sun who also lies buried here. He died in 1545. This tomb,
a five-tiered edifice in the centre of the lake, is the best
Muslim structure in Bihar. The Tomb of Sher Shah’s father
and son are also there.
All these places can be visited keeping Patna as the base station.
Most of them are also connected by rail routes and most of them
have comfortable places of overnight stay.
