Nalanda

Nalanda Archaeological Museum is a museum that exclusively exhibits the relics of the ancient Nalanda University and its adjoining areas. It offers a authentic inside into the Pala art which proves that the university gave equal importance to creative arts along with the intellectual development. This museum has four galleries and out of the 13463 antiquities excavated 349 are on display in these galleries. The artifacts from Nalanda dates back to 5th to 12th century AD. 

Nalanda University has one of the halls named after famous traveler Hiuen Tsang. It is believed that Hiuen Tsang had lived here for 12 years as a student and a teacher. He was one of the only traveler who helped a lot to fetch the fame of Nalanda to the outside world, Hiuen Tsang adorns a prestigious place in the history of entire India. This legendary hall is a remainder of the educational and artistic grandeur of Nalanda University. 

This prestigious institution of the 5th century had been established under the Gupta rulers. Though the University was a Buddhist center of learning, it imparts thorough education to its students on various subjects. It is just like the modern school where the institution took care of the needs of all interests of the students. The excavations in Nalanda reveals that the students shared a common mess. Hiuen Tsang, the great Chinese scholar records Nalanda as an prosperous built up university with over 10,000 monks and 1,500 teachers. A lofty wall with one gate and six stored Sangharama buildings marked the University.

The Nalanda University area had a great Stupa. The excavations show that this Stupa is surrounded by flights of steps and terraces. Many of the stupas were two or even three times built one over the other on the same spot. It has also been found that the very small original structure was enlarged by later temples built over and around the ruins of the earlier ones. The main Stupa at Nalanda is the result of seven successive accumulations. It also contained a massive image of Lord Buddha.

It is located 15 km away from Nalanda. The place is surrounded by lush green environment and is the most beautiful places of India. The area is famous for its close attachment to Lord Buddha, who walked on this place and taught the basic tenets to attain enlightenment. Rajgir is notable in Buddhism and Jainism as it is one of the favorite places for Mahavira and Gautama Buddha and also famous for "Atanatiya" conference which was held at Vulture's Peak mountain.