Tourist Place in Bihar Archives - Page 2 of 4

Tourist places in Gaya

Introduction

Gaya, one of the oldest districts of the state, was created on October 3, 1865. The place is of utmost religious importance for Buddhists as well as Hindus. It was at a distance of 14 km from the district HQ that about 2500 years back, Siddhartha Gautama, a wandering prince from the neighbouring Himalayan kingdom, attained enlightenment to become Lord Buddha.

For the Hindus too, the place is very important as it is associated with the final salvation of the soul. The performance of the ‘pindadaan’ rituals is mandatory for the salvation of souls. The Vishnupad temple, located here, is a very important shrine. The district is divided into four subdivisions, 24 blocks, and 31 police stations.

Places of Interest

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

Mahabodhi Temple
Mahabodhi Temple,the seat of Buddha’s enlightenment, is located at Bodh Gaya. Also located here are the Great Buddha statue, Thai Monastery, Tibetan Temple having a mega Dhamma Chakra, Muclind Sarovar and Maya Sarovar.
Dhungeshwari

Dhungeshwari, six km to the south-east of Gaya town, is the place where Buddha spent six years in meditation and it was here that the Buddhist philosophy of ‘madhyam marg’ or middle path dawned on Buddha. Kurkihar Another place associated with Buddha at a distance of 15 km from Gaya town.

Vishnupad Temple

Vishnupad Temple, in Gaya town, is the seat of final salvation. Though the temple is exclusively opened for the Hindus, there is a non-Hindu gate facilitating the entry of non-Hindus up to a certain point outside the temple sanctum. Patharkatti Located at a distance of 25 km from Gaya town, the place is known for its stone products crafted by sculptors of unbelievable skill. Dharmaranya or Lo-Thu-Kaba Flanked on both sides by the rivers Mohane and Niranjana, three km away from the Sujata stupa in Bakaraur, is the unique site of Dharmaranya, mentioned in Hindu and Buddhist legends. As the name suggests, it is a place in jungle which has its roots in Dwapar age. It is said that Yudhisthir after the Mahabharata war had performed yajna for purification from sins. According to Tibetan Buddhists, Lord Buddha meditated here for six years under the Peepul tree. It is a belief that this was also the site of the hermitage of Uruvela Kashyap, who had become a disciple of the Buddha.

FAIRS & FESTIVALS

‘Pitripaksha’ the annual festival of souls. The fortnight-long festival begins on ‘Anant Chaturdashi’ in September every year during which lakhs of Hindus visit Gaya to offer ‘pindadaan’ for salvationof their ancestral souls. ‘Pindadaan’ is offered here throughout the year, though.

Annual Urs

Annual Urs of Makhdum, a Sufi saint of the area, is held in the last week of ‘Shaban’ month of Islamic calendar.

Bauddha Mahotsav

The three-day cultural event is organised every year at the Kalchakra Maidan of Bodh Gaya.
The Mahotsava begins on January 14.
Museum, South Church Road, Gandhi Maidan
Timings: 10.30 am to 4.30 pm
Entry free
Monday closed

HOW TO REACH

Gaya is connected by direct rail link to cities like Delhi,Kolkata,Mumbai, Patna.It is 18 km to the south of the GT Road and the link road branches out of the GT Road at a place called Dobhi.

Gaya has an international airport linking it with Colombo, Bangkok and Thimpu. Many chartered planes land at the Gaya airport during tourist season.

The Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation (BSTDC) runs a bus service between Patna and Bodh Gaya. The BSTDC bus leaves Patna (near Hotel Kautilya) at 7 in the morning and 2 in the afternoon. The fare is Rs 60 per person. There is also an inter-city train service between Gaya and Patna. More than half a dozen EMU trains ply between Gaya and Patna.

Private taxis are available at the Gaya railway station. Rate is negotiable.
By Air:
By Rail:

Nearest railhead

Gaya.

By Road:

Connected by good roads with all major cities of India.

Where to Stay:

Hotel Ajatshatru, Near Gaya railway station

Phone: 2434584, Fax: 2434202
Tariff ranging from Rs 300 to Rs 900
Heritage Inn, in the middle of Gaya town
Phone: 2431009
Email: heritageinngaya@yahoo.com
Tariff ranging from Rs 600 to Rs 2500
Hotel Sujata, Bodh Gaya
Phone: 2200761, Fax: 2200515
Email: hoteLsujata@yahoo.com
Website: www.hotelsujata.com
Tariff ranging from Rs 2,800 to Rs 4,200
Lotus Nikko Hotel, Bodh Gaya
Phone: 2200700, Fax: 2200788
Email: lotusnikko_bodhgaya@yahoo.com
Tariff ranging from Rs 3,800 to Rs 8,500
Royal Residency, Bodh Gaya
Phone: 2200181, Fax: 2200367
Email: rrbodhgaya@gmail.com
website: www.theroyalresidency.net
Tariff ranging from Rs 6,000 to Rs 8,500
BSTDC’s Tourist Complex,
Siddharth Vihar, Bodh Gaya
AC & non-AC rooms are available Tariff (Oct-March): Rs. 800 (AC), Rs. 600 (non-AC);
Apr-Sept: Rs. 700(AC), Rs. 500 (non-AC)
Buddha Vihar (Dormitory)
Tariff: Rs. 150 per bed (Attached bath)
Sujata Vihar (Dormitory)
Tariff: Rs. 75 per bed (Common bath)
Phone: 2200445, Fax:2200127

In Emergency, Contact, STD Code: 0631 District Magistrate: 2420005 (Off), 2420008 (Res)
Superintendent of Police: 2420003 (Off), 2420004 (Res)

Medical Emergencies

,Contact, STD Code: 0631 Civil Surgeon: 2420009 (Res)
Dr. A.N.Rai (Physician): 2433426
Dr. Pandey Rajeshwari Prasad (Surgeon): 2423009
Dr. Manju Sinha (Gynaecologist): 2422190
Local Transport:

Auto rickshaws, Cycle-rickshaws, tangas.

Tourist Season:

October to March.

Clothing: Light cotton in summer and woolen in winter (specially during November to January).

Tourist places in Gopalganj

Introduction

Gopalganj district was notified as a separate district in 1973. In 1758, Fateh Bahadur Sahi, a member of Hathwa Raj, led the war of independence in the district. But he had to shift his activities to Tamkuhi as some of his associates ditched him.

Places of Interest

WHAT T0 LOOK FOR

Thawe Durga Temple

located on the Patna-Gopalganj road, Thawe’s Durga Temple is visited by thousands of people every year. A huge fair is organised here during Dussehra in September-October.

Bhuri Shravar Ashram

Situated about 65 km from Gopalganj at Bhore, this Ashram dates back to the Mahabharata period.

Dhurna Kund

Situated about 20 km from Bhore town is an ancient Shiv Temple located right in the middle of river Khanua. Devotees have to reach the temple by boat. Another place of tourist importance is Amya in Kateya block, about 85 km from Gopalganj. lord Buddha had stayed here while he was on way to Kushinagar after getting enliglitenment.

LOCAL FAIR

The month-long Vaishakhi Mela at Thawe Durga Temple during Chaitra month is a major tourist attraction.HOW TO REACH

By Air:

Nearest Airport
Gopalganj is connected by road with Patna in Bihar and Gorakhpur in UP Buses ply regularly from Patna, Muzaffarpur, Siwan, Chhapra and Gorakhpur to Gopalganj. Thawe is the nearest railway station, about five km from the district HQ at Gopalganj.

By Rail:

Nearest railhead
Gopalganj.

By Road:
Connected by good roads with all Indian cities.

Where to Stay:
Hotel Vaibhav, STD Code: 06156, Phone: 226457, 225756
AC rooms with cable TV and other facilities available for Rs 600 to Rs 1160.
Ashish Hotel, STD Code: 06156, Phone: 226089
Rooms available at moderate tariff.
Kailash Hotel, Phone: 9431217090
Rooms available at moderate tariff.
There are several other private lodges and government-owned inspection bungalows where rooms are available at affordable rates.

Local Transport:
Auto rickshaws, Cycle-rickshaws, tangas.

In Emergency, Contact,STD Code: 06156
District Magistrate: 224661 (Off), 224662 (Res), 9431016567
Superintendent of Police: 224669 (Off), 224668 (Res), 9431822991
Deputy SP (Sadar): 9431800070
Town Police Station SHO: 9431822488

Medical Emergencies,Contact
Dr. shambhu Nath Singh (Cardiologist): 9431424046
Dr. S.K.Jha: 9934673813
Civil Surgeon: 9431414065

Tourist Season
October to March.

Clothing:
Light cotton in summer and woolen in winter (specially during November to January).

Tourist places in Jehanabad

Introduction

Jehanabad district was carved out of old Gaya district on August 1, 1986. Earlier, it had been a subdivision of the Gaya district since 1872. The main objective behind the creation of this district was to accelerate the pace of development to tackle the problem of extremism, poverty, unemployment and under-development.

The city of Jehanabad, which is the district HQ is situated on the confluence of the rivers Dardha and Jamune. The total land of the district is plain. It is crisscrossed by a number of river and rivulets, all seasonal, such as Galgu, Morhar, Dardha, lamune, Baldeyia and Ganghar.

legends, Hindu as well as Buddhist, take down the history of jehanabad to a period of hoary antiquity. The earliest of the archeological remains in the district are to be found in the Barabar and Nagarjuni hills. The description of jlehanabad is also found in the famous book ‘Aain-e-Akbari’.

Places of Interest

WHAT TO LOOK FOR
Barabar

Situated at a distance of 11 km from the Makhdumpur block HQ Barabar can be called a tourist’s paradise. Barabar, connected by a motorable road, consists of a group of hills with distinct peaks. The most conspicuous are the peaks known as Murali, Sandagiri and Siddheshwar. These hills are noted for the world-famous Seven Caves. For sheer panoramic grandeur and rugged natural beauty, very few places in the old Gaya district can be compared to the northern portion of the Barabar hills. There’s an ancient temple of Siddheshwar nath, which from an inscription in one of the neighbouring caves is known to belong to the sixth or seventh century. This temple attracted the attention of pilgrims even before the advent of Buddhism.

Towards the south of Siddheshwar nath Temple at its foot lies a small basin surrounded by hills with openings on the north-east and south-east where walls have been built. Towards the southern corner of the basin are two small sheets of water, which find an outlet under ground to the south-east and reappear in the sacred spring called ‘Patal Ganga’, where a bathing festival is held annually on Anant Chaturdashi.

The Barabar Caves are excavated in the hardest granite with infinite care and the interior surface of all of them contains high polish and is burnished like glass. Chinese traveller Xuanzang its visited this place and has given detailed descriptions of the place in his book. However, the credit for unravelling the charm and appeal of the Barabar hills goes to celebrated British author E M Forster. Forster’s ‘A Passage to India’ is replete with references to the Barabar hills though the name has been changed to Marabar.

Taking into consideration the immense tourism potential, historicity and religious significance of Barabar hills, the Bihar tourism department in association with the district administration has renovated the place giving it an entirely new look.

FACILITIES AT BARABAR

Stairways to the Siddheshwar nath Temple a top the hill
Tourist bungalow at ‘Patal Ganga’
Cafeteria
Piped water facilities
Nagarjuni Museum
Rural Marketing Complex
Police outpost
Telephone booths
Solar and electric lights

Dharaut

About 10 km north-west of Barabar hills, Dharaut has been identified as the site of the Buddhist monastery of Gunamati. At the foot of the Kunwa hill is a large tank known as Chandpokhar or Chandrapokhar. The name of the tank perpetuates the legend that it was excavated by Raja Chandra Sen. Two modern temples at its north-eastern corner once contained a large collection of ancient statues.

Dabthu

Six km east of Hulasganj in the district, Dabthu is chiefly known for its finely-carved images and ruins of temples. In the remains of ancient shrines, one can still see images of deities mutilated and decayed by ravages of time.

Ghejan

Situated in the Tatani-Faridpur block of the district and about 19 km away from jehanabad on the Shakmabad-Ghyan road, this place came light after the Gupta-period stone statues were excavated here. A huge statue of Lord Buddha has been on display in the village.

Kako

Kako is one of the blocks of this district situated at a distance of 10 km from the district HQ. There is a temple in the north-east of the village which has an ancient statue of sungod. There is also a mausoleum of great woman Sufi saint Hazrat Bibi Kamal. Bibi Kamal, aunt of Hazrat Makhdum Saheb of Biharsharif, is said to have been endowed with mystic and divine powers.

Ancient monuments have also been found in several other villages of the district like Bhelawar, Meerabigha, Amthua, Banwaria, Zaroo, Lat, Murgaon, Lari and Umta.

HOW TO REACH

By Air:

Nearest Airport
Jhanabad is 55 km from Patna and 50 km from Gaya; that is, it is centrally located between Patna and Gaya. It is linked by both road and rail routes. The Patna-Gaya section of the East Central Railway, popularly known as the PG line, passes through this district.

The Patna-Dobhi national highway also passes through this district, connecting it with the Grand Trunk national highway in the Gaya district. A number of buses ply between jehanabad and other towns of the state, including Patna and Gaya

By Rail:

Emergency,Contact
District Magistrate: 223001 (Res), 9431226100 (Mobile)
Superintendent of Police: 223110 (Res), 9431822976 (Mobile)
Town Police Station: 223017, 9431822258

Medical Emergencies, Contact District Sadar Hospital: 227794
Civil Surgeon: 9431071836
Dr Girijesh Kumar: 9431279908
Dr Leela Sinha: 223220
Dr K Rajan: 223366, 9431083321
Dr Qaisar Hussain: 9955430466

By Road:
Connected by good roads with all Indian cities.

Where to Stay:
Sriram Hotel, PG Road, Mobile: 9431256935
Shalimar Rest House, PG Road, Mobile: 9234541644
Taj Rest House, PG Road, Mobile: 9934610150
Muralidhar Rest House, PG Road, Mobile: 9939912355
Balaji Rest House, Court area, Mobile: 9431280046

Local Transport:
Auto rickshaws, Cycle-rickshaws, tangas.

Tourist Season
October to March.

Clothing:
Light cotton in summer and woolen in winter (specially during November to January).

Tourist places in Motihari

Introduction

Motihari is a town steeped in history.When the British carved out the district of Champaran from Saran in the later part of the 19th century. Motihari was made its headquarters. After the creation of West Champaran district with Bettiah as its headquarters in 1972, Motihari continued as the headquarters of truncated East Champaran.
Motihari holds its eminence as the birth place of famous writer George Orwell,born Eric Arthur Blair,and of Mahatma Gandhi’s Champaran Satyagraha.
Places in and around Motihari have had an older link:Buddhism.The world’s tallest stupa is at Kesaria,just an hour from Motihari. Motihari,thus,is a crucible of both the Gandhi and Buddhist circuits.
A museum and a stone pillar are there to commemorate Mahatma Gandhi’s links with Motihari.Gandhiji’s courageous statment given before a magistrate is inscribed here on a stone.The 48-ft tall Chunar stone pillar stands exactly on the place where Gandhi was prouced before the court of the sub-divisional magistrate on April 18,1917 for violating prohibitory orders.
Mahatma Gandhi’s first Satyagraha was experimented on the soil of Motihari in the Champaran district and,thus,Champaran has been the starting point of India’s independence movement launched by Gandhi.

Places of Interest

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

Gandhi Sangrahalaya
It has on display an array of photographs and relics of the Champaran satyagraha.

Schools started by Gandhi
The schools started by Mahatma Gandhi in the village of Barharwa Lakhensen and Madhuban are among other important sites of interest in the vicinity of Motihari.

Kesaria
There’s a stupa at Kesaria near Motihari which is said to be the tallest and the largest Buddhist stupa in the world.It was discovered in 1998 through excavation by the Archaeological Survey of India.

The stupa’s height is 104 feet,which is far less than its reported original height.Yet,it is one ft taller than the famous Borobodur stupa in Java.Legend has it that Buddha,on his last journey,is reported to have spent a memorable night at Kesaria,where he reportedly made some historical revelations.These were later recorded in a Buddhist Jataka story

Orwell’s birth place

George orwell,one of the greatest writersof twentieth century and author of famous books like ‘Animal Farm’ and ‘Nineteen Eighty-Four’,was born in Motihari in 1903.His father Richard walmesley Blair was a deputy posted in the opium department in Bihar.The cottage,where the famous author was born,lies in the midst of the town.A plaque commemorating has birth place stands outside the house.

Areraj Temple
A little away from Motihari lies the temple town of Areraj.The Shiva temple here is a popular pilgrim site.Also at Areraj lies an Ashokan pillar attracting tourists throughout the year.

Lake Town
Motihari has a picturesque lake-Motijheel-running through it.HOW TO REACH

By Air:

Nearest Airport
Motihari has a railway station. But it is advisable to travel to Motihari by road from Patna. Buses and taxis are available. The distance between Patna and Motihari is 160 km.

By Rail:

Nearest railhead
Motihari

By Road:
A number of buses play between Patna and Motihari.

Where to Stay:
Hotels, Rest houses and Dharmshalas in the Motihari Town.
Aarti Hotel,Main Road,Phone: 06252-290664,09304255459
ACjnon-AC rooms are available for Rs 150 to Rs 1,000. Food is also served here.
Hotel Shakti,Chhatauni Road,Phone: 06252-235715
ACjnon-AC rooms available. Tariff ranges from Rs 250 to Rs 900.
Hotel Monica,Madhuban Chhawni Chowk,Phone: 09430255419
ACjnon-AC rooms available. Tariff ranges from Rs 250 to Rs 900.
Hotel Divya Raj,Madhuban Chhawni Chowk,Phone: 06252-241777
ACjnon-AC rooms available. Tariff ranges from Rs 250 to Rs 1,400.

Local Transport:
Auto rickshaws, Cycle-rickshaws, tangas.

In Emergency,Contact:
District Magistrate: 06252-222695(Off) , 242800(Res) 9431811222 (Mobile)
Superintendent of Police: 222684(Off),232683(Res) 9431822988 (Mobile
Sub-Divisional Police Officer: 222923(Off),9431800068(Mobile)

Medical Emergencies,Contact
Dr.Shambhu Saran(Cardiologist): 9431233077
Dr.Ashutosh Saran(Surgeon): 9431233123
Dr. Jasbir Saran(Gynaecologist): 9431434954
Dr Shekhar Verma (Dentist): 9431434954
Dr. J. N. Gupta(Physician): 9431233022

Tourist Season
October to March.

Clothing:
Light cotton in summer and woolen in winter (specially during November to January).

Tourist places in Munger

Introduction

Munger district has a unique historical background. The areas falling under this district are considered a part of the first Aryan settlers’ midland. It has been identified with Modagiri, a place mentioned in the epic Mahabharat. It was the capital of a kingdom in eastern India near Bhanga and Tamralipta. There is also a mention of Modagiri in the ‘Digvijay Parva’ of the Mahabharata, which seems to be the same as Modagiri.

The first authentic historical account of the district finds a mention in the memoirs of Xuanzang who visited a part of this district towards the close of the first half of the seventh century AD.
A copper plate known as the ‘Munger Plate’ was discovered in Munger way back in 1780. Mir Kasim conquered Munger and made it his capital till the army of East India Company captured Munger. MirKasim had to flee through a tunnel made along the bank of river Ganga near Kastharni Ghat.

Places of Interest

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

Bihar Yoga Bharati

It is located within the Ganga Darshan Complex in Munger on a powerful energy centre, about 172 km from Patna. It is on the top of the hill overlooking the river Ganga.

It was Swami Shivanand who first had the vision of a yoga university when he established the Yoga Vedanta Forest Academy in Rishikesh. Paramhansa Satyanand, who established the Ganga Darshan Complex in Munger, carried his inspiration forward. He has founded and established the Bihar Yoga Bharati, the yoga university, to preserve and regenerate yogic science. The university imparts comprehensive yogic education and offers MA, MPhil, PhD and DLitt.

Munger Fort

The most important of the monuments at Munger is the ancient fort, built on a rocky eminence projecting into the river Ganges that protects it from west and partly from the north, the other sides being defended by a deep moat. The rampart was provided with four gateways, one on each side, and with circular or octagonal bastions, at regular intervals, carrying the usual battlements. of the gates only the northern gate, called Lal Darwaza, is somewhat preserved, with some carved stones built into it, which originally belonged to some Hindu or Buddhist structure.

Bheembandh

Inside the deep Kharagpur forest, 50 km away from the district HQ, there’s this scenic spot with a natural waterfall surrounded by hills from three sides.

Red Fort

It’s a historic fort, similar to the Red Fort of Delhi and Agra. It has original bricks and ancientstructurebut it is bereft of its original tower clock which got dismantled during the 1934 earthquake.

Chandisthan

It’s a small temple situated in the cave of a hillock on the northern flank of river Ganga, three km from the district HQ. A large number of devotees worship the eyeball that is fitted inside the temple and revere it as the eye of goddess Parvati. legend has it that this is the site where one of the eyes of Goddedss Parvati fell while her body was being carried by lord Shiva on his shoulder. Astrologers and tantriks from across the country gather here during Navaratra in September-October every year for meditation.

Shaheed Bag

It is believed that the maximum number of freedom fighters who laid their lives during the 1942 movement belonged to Munger. Several young boys were killed at Tarapur by the Tommies while they were hoisting the Tricolour. There’s a Shaheed Bag inside the fort premises to commemorate the historic event.

Peer Naph

The body of an ancient Sufi fakir is believed to be buried on a hillock on the southern gate of Munger Fort. This place has been renovated and a magnificent mosque has come up there. It is known as Peer Napha Saheb’s mosque. Hundreds of persons pay their respect at this mosque, especially on Fridays.

FAIRS& FESTIVALS

Maaghi Purnima Mela

The fair is held at Sita Kund every year for a month, beginning on the Maaghi Purnima day. This fair is famous for sale of wooden furniture of all varieties at affordable prices. Traders from Katihar, Purnia and Saharsa in Bihar and UP and Assam participate in the fair along with their products.

Shivaratri Mela

It is an important fair. Elephants and horses are adorned with ancient attires and costumes. lakhs of people assemble here on Maha shivaratri to watch a special play based on the mythological marriage of lord Shiva with goddess Parvati.

Sita-Kund

It’s a hot water spring, the water of which cools only for an hour on the day of Maaghi Purnima. But no one knows at what time the water cools. This hot spring, six km from the district HQ, is now enclosed in a masonry reservoir and is visited by a large number of pilgrims every day, particularly during the full moon of Maagh.

HOW TO REACH

By Air:

Nearest Airport
Jamalpur Junction is the main railway station from where Munger, the district HQ, is situated at a distance of six km. Buses, private taxis and three wheelers ply round the clock from Jamalpur to Munger. Munger is also connected by road to major cities of Bihar

By Rail:

Nearest railhead
Jamalpur

By Road:
Connected by good roads with all Indian cities.

Where to Stay:
State Tourism Corporation’s and Private Hotels, Rest houses and Dharmshalas at Munger.
Hotel Raj, STD Code: 06152, Phone: 228731, 225376
Centre Point, STD Code: 06152, Phone: 220600
Sitaria Hotel, STD Code: 06152, Phone: 222508, 228209
Hotel Namita, STD Code: 06152, Phone: 228680
Murari Hotel, STD Code: 06152, Phone: 261289

In Emergency, Contact, STD Code: 06152
District Magistrate: 222401 (Res), 222402 (Off)
Superintendent of Police: 222405 (Res), 222406 (Off)
Sub-divisional Officer: 222403

Medical Emergencies,Contact, STD Code: 06152
Government Sadar Hospital: 220568
Sevayan Nursing Home: 220412
Dr. K.K.Bajpayee: 222888
Dr. Anirudh Prasad: 222334
Dr. Sunil Gupta: 226539
Dr. Rana Pratap Singh: 222853
Dr. Rupa Prasad: 222746, 222398
Dr. Sunil Kumar Singh: 222173, 221364
Dr. Jogendra Kumar: 9430449751
Dr. Sudhir Prasad: 222714
Dr. J.D.Singh: 222608
Dr. R.K.Gupta: 220177
Dr. J.D.Singh: 222608
Dr. R.K.Gupta: 220177

Local Transport:
Auto rickshaws, Cycle-rickshaws, tangas.

Tourist Season
October to March.

Clothing:
Light cotton in summer and woolen in winter (specially during November to January).

Tourist places in Muzaffarpur

Introduction

Muzaffarpur’s recorded history dates back to the rise of Vajji republic, a confederation of eight clans of which the Lichchhavis were the most powerful and influential. The unity among the Lichchhavis was so strong that the royalty of even the powerful kingdom of Magadh had to go for matrimonial alliances with members of the Lichchhavi clans in 519 BC.

Besides being a seat of one the oldest republics of the world, Muzaffarpur is also believed’ by some Jains to be the birthplace of Lord Mahavir, the 24th Jain Tirthankar. Also, this is the place where Gautam Buddha delivered his first sermon after attaining enlightenment at Bodh Gaya. Lord Mahavir and Lord Buddha were contemporaries.

The birthplace of Lord Mahavir at Baso Kund under the Saraiya block of Muzaffarpur district has a full-fledged Prakrit Institute which attracts visitors, mainly followers of Jainism, from abroad. Ambarati, which is believed to be the village home of Amrapali, the famous cour dancer of Vaishali, also attracts many. It is 40 km away from Muzaffarpur town.
Muzaffarpur also boasts of having maintained communal harmony since the medieva period. Not a single Hindu-Muslim riot has ever taken place in Muzaffarpur
The place is also associated with the first bomb exploded during India’s freedom move ment. The bomb was exploded by a young revolutionary from Bengal, Khudiram Bose, all of 1 years, with the help of his companion Prafulla Chandra Chaki. Khudiram threw the bomb at the horse-driven carriage of Pringle Kennedy, mistaking him for Muzaffarpur’s district judge Khudiram was captured near the Pusa Road railway station and subsequently hanged to death in the Muzaffarpur jail. Post-freedom, the railway station and the jail have been named afte Khudiram.
Muzaffarpur is famous all over the world for the Shahi litchi grown here. It is because of the unique soil in Bochaha and Mushahari blocks of the district that Shahi litchi has a scent and sweetness which is not found in any other variety of the fruit.

Places of Interest

Litchi gardens of Bochaha, Jhapaha and Mushahari from the first week of April to the second week of May. They are located in a radius of five to seven km from Muzaffarpur.

Jubba Sahni Park, Gandhi Koop on L S College campus, Kamal Shah Mazaar in Purani Bazar, Garib Sthan Mandir, Ramna Devi Mandir and Baglamukhi Mandir in Kachchisarai, all in Muzaffarpur town, are also worth seeing.

One can also visit the National Litchi Research Centre at Rahua, five km from Muzaffarpur town, to know more about litchi.


HOW TO REACH

By Air:

Nearest Airport
The distance between Muzaffarpur and Patna is 60 km, and one can take a bus or hire a taxi from Patna to reach Muzaffarpur.

By Rail:

Nearest railhead
Muzaffarpur

By Road:
Connected by good roads with all Indian cities.

Where to Stay:
State Tourism Corporation’s and Private Hotels, Rest houses and Dharmshalas at Muzaffarpur
Hotel Elite, Phone: 0621-2245353
Hotel Lichchhavi, Phone: 0621-2268512
Chandralok Continental, Phone: 0621-2245911

WHERE TO EAT There are several motels and dhabas in and around Muzaffarpur.

Local Transport:
Auto rickshaws, Cycle-rickshaws, tangas.

In Emergency, Contact
District Magistrate: 0621-2212101
Superintendent of Police: 0621-2217797
Town Police Station: 0621-2245252

Medical Emergencies,Contact
Dr. Birendra Kishore (Surgeon): 0621-2212485
Dr. T.K.Jha (Physician): 0621-2261425
Dr. B.B.Thakur (Physician): 9431238285
Dr. Rangila Sinha (Gynaecologist): 0621-2213938

Tourist Season
October to March.

Clothing:
Light cotton in summer and woolen in winter (specially during November to January).

Tourist places in Nalanda

Introduction The ancient town in Bihar was once home to the world’s first university for higher learning. Nalanda is about 90 km southeast of Patna. Nalanda means “giver of knowledge”.
The university at Nalanda began as a Buddhist monastery. Lord Buddha stayed at Nalanda several times in the local mango grove.

Lord Mahavir is also believed to have attained ‘moksha’ at Pawapuri, which is located in Nalanda. Also, according to one sect of Jainism, he was born in the nearby village, Kundalpur.
Interestingly, there’s a Nalanda Buddhist Centre (NBC) in Brazil. Set up in 1989, the centre was so named as a tribute to the great legacy of Nalanda, The NBC was the second Theravada Buddhist tradition centre set up in Brazil 22 years after the Sri Lankan temple was first established.

Places of Interest

WHAT TO LOOK FOR
Ruins of ancient Nalanda

The university of Nalanda was established in 450 AD under the patronage of the Gupta emperors, notably Kumaragupta. It was one of the world’s first residential universities. Its dormitories accommodated over 10,000 students and 2,000 teachers.

The Nalanda varsity had eight separate compounds and ten temples besjdes many meditation halls and classrooms. There were also lakes and parks. The subjects taught at the university covered every field of learning, and it attracted pupils and scholars from as far as Korea, Japan, China, Tibet, Indonesia and Turkey, among other countries.

Chinese pilgrim Xuanzang has given a detailed account of the university. The terracotta seal of Nalanda University has been put on display in the ASI Museum at Nalanda.

Pawapuri

Lord Mahavir attained ‘nirvana’ (salvation from the endless cycle of life and death) at Pawapuri,and thus the placeis a holy site for Jains.It is located 38 km from Rajgir in Nalanda district and 90 km from Patna,and it was here that Lord Mahavir,the last of the 24 Jain Tirthankars,breathed his last around 500 BC. He was cremated at Pawapuri,also known as APapuri (the sinless town).

There was a great rush to collect his ashes,and, as a result, so much soil was removed from the place of his cremation that a pond was created.Now, an exquisite marble temple, Jalmandir, stands magnificently on a rectangular island in the middle of the pond.

There’s another Jain temple, Samosharan, here. This is the placewhere Lord Mahavir delivered his last sermon

Kundalpu
Just 1.6 km from the ruins of Nalanda is this place called Kundalpur. The Digambar sect of Jains believes that the 24th and the last Tirthankar, Lord Mahavir, was born here. There are many Jain temples in this village.

Multimedia Museum

India’s first multimedia museum was opened here on January26, 2008. It has a section that recreates the history of Nalanda using a 3D animation film with narration by TV and movie actor Shekhar Suman. There are four more sections in the Multimedia Museum Geographical Perspective Historical Perspective,Hall o Nalanda and Revival o Nalanda.

Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) Museum
Nalanda,the archaeological museum set up in 1917, housesthe antiquities,mainly those excavated from the earliest university cum monastery complex at Nalanda and from Rajgir. Out of 13,463 antiquities, 349 are on display in the four galleries of the museum. The antiquities from Nalanda are datable from 5th to 12th century AD but some of those from Rajgir are a little older. The sculptures kept in this museum are made of stone, bronzes, stucco and terracotta but majority of those have been carved on basalt stone.
Most of the idols belong to the Buddhist faith but there are also those belonging to Jain and Hindu religions.
A scale model of excavated remains of Nalanda university occupies the central place of the hall. There are 57 idols and sculptures displayed in the first gallery.
Opening hour:10 am to 5 pm
Friday closed
Entrance fee: Rs 2 per head
Free entry for children up to 15 years

Xuanzang Memorial Hall

A memorial has been built and named after the Chinese traveller and scholar monk, Xuanzang, who was a student at Nalanda and subsequently became a teacher at the ancient Nalanda Mahavihara.The magnificent hall is located barely 1.3 km away from the ruins of Nalanda.
It was in January 1957 that India’s first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru, on behalf of the government of India, received the relics of Xuanzang along with his biographyand an endowment for the construction of a hall in his memory from His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Panchen Lamaof Tibet. The initiative was aimed at enhancingthe cultural relationship between India and China. The construction work started in 1960 and was completed in 1984. The relics of Xuanzang have been preserved in the Patna Museum.

HOW TO REACH

The road between Patna and Ragir-Nalanda-Pawapuri is in excellent condition. Private and state transport buses ply between Patna and Biharsharif, the district HQ town of Nalanda. Tempos or horse-driven carts can be hired from Biharsharif for Rajgir. Alternatively, one can hire a taxi from Patna to Rajgir-Nalanda-Pawapuri. There’s also a direct train between Delhi and Nalanda. Called Shramjeevi Express (2391 Up/2392 Dn), it runs via Patna.

By Air:

Nearest Airport
Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan International Airport, Patna, 100 km away.


By Rail:

Nearest railhead
Nalanda.

By Road:
Connected by good roads with all major cities of India.

Where to Stay:
There are several hotels in and around Rajgir. Apart from hotels, tourists can opt for tourist bungalows or government-owned hotels or guest houses

Indo-Hokke Hotel (3-star facilities), Phone: 255231, Fax: 255245
Rajgir Residency (2-star facilities), Phone: 255404, Fax: 255405
Hotel Tathagat Vihar, Phone: 255176, Fax: 255176
Hotel Siddhartha, Phone: 255216, Fax: 255352

Emergency, Contact

Nalanda District Magistrate: 235203, 235204, Fax: 235205
Nalanda Superintendent of Police: 235207, Fax: 233978
Rajgir Dy Superintendent of Police: 255461
Rajgir Police Station: 255258

Medical Emergencies, Contact Rajgir Hospital: 255102

Local Transport:
Auto rickshaws, Cycle-rickshaws, tangas.

Tourist Season
From October to February. From mid-December to the end of January, temperature here ranges from 5 degree C to 15 degree C. May and June are hot and the mercury goes up to 46 degree C. It’s monsoon time towards the end of June.

Clothing:
Light cotton in summer and woolen in winter (specially during November to January).

Tourist places in Nawada

Introduction

Situated on the National Highway-31 on Patna-Ranchi main road, some 120 km away from Bihar capital Patna, Nawada is a place of historical and mythological significance. Half of the Nawada district’s land is surrounded by forests and hills and several important places, like Kakolat Falls, offer a panoramic and pleasant natural sight to the tourists visiting Nawada.

The legend has it that Nawada was visited by Pandavas of the Mahabharata fame during their exile. Historians in their writings have acknowledged and discussed the discovery of several monuments, statues and coins of the Mauryan, Sunga, Pala and Mughal periods in different parts of the district. One can have a dekko at these finds, preserved in the Nardah Museum at Nawada town, the district HQ.

Peasant leader Swami Sahajanand made this district his workplace while Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan or JP, whose historic ‘Total Revolution’ call in 1970s led to the formation of the first non-Congress government in New Delhi, had his ‘Sarvodaya Ashram’ at Shekhodeora in the district’s Kauakol block.

Places of Interest

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

Sarvodaya Ashram

This Ashram, established by Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan, is 55 km away from the district HQ and is located in the forests at Shekhodeora village. Endowed with very natural and scenic beauty, the place had been a home to JP for quite some time.

Tourist inquiries about the Ashram can be made from 9934082815.

Nardah Museum

Nardah Museum is one of the prominent museums of Bihar with a very rich collection of ancient artifacts adorning its shelves. Several statues and coins of the Mauryan, Sunga, Pala and Mughal eras have been preserved at this museum, opened in 1973 soon after Nawada was carved out of Gaya as a separate district.

Kakolat

Kakolat Falls is a popular water falls of the district that attracts people from different parts of the country for picnicking in the summer. Water here falls from approximately 150 ft above the ground level into a well maintained pond at Kakolat, 33 km from the district HQ. It is surrounded by lush green forests, which add to its beauty.

This is the place which, according to the legend, was visited by the great Pandavas during exile. Also, a mythological king, cursed by a saint to take the shape of a python, got salvation after bathing in the water here. Having gotrid of the curse, the king proclaimed that those who would take a bath in the waterfall would never be reborn as a snake. A large number of people from far and near make it a point to take a bath under the falls due to this belief.

Tourist inquiries about Kakolat can be made from 9334610352.

Gunawan Jain Temple

One of the holiest temples of Jains, this temple is located one km away from the district HQ on the National Highway-31.

Handia Sun Temple

This temple, 12 km from Nawada town, is believed to have existed since the ‘Dwapar Age’. The legend has it that the water in the temple is sacred enough to cure leprosy patients.

Sitamarhi Cave

The Sitamarhi Cave is situated in a remote part of the district, about 30 km from the district HQ on the Gaya-Nawada main road, The cave is about 16 ft long and 11 ft wide.

HOW TO REACH

Nawada is connected with rail link, but the neighbouring Gaya Junction is better connected with all major cities. Alternatively, one can reach Patna and hire a taxi to Nawada.

It is advisable to make Nawada a part of the package tour of Gaya, Nalanda and Rajgir because all these places are located in a radius of 100 km and are connected with good, motorable roads.

By Air:

Nearest Airport
Gaya and Patna

By Rail:

Nearest railhead
Nawada

By Road:
Connected by good roads with all Indian cities.

Where to Stay:
Private Hotels, Rest houses and Dharmshalas at Bihar Sharif/Nawada/Rajgir

Hotel Krishna Palace, STD Code: 06324, Phone: 9934747163, 216149
AC and nol’1-AC rooms available for Rs 250.R5 400 per day per room.
Hotel Rajshree International, STD Code: 06324, Phone: 215211, 9431227029
AC and non-AC rooms available for Rs 250-Rs 600 per day per room.

WHERE TO EAT Dozens of restaurants, motels and dhabas are around. The food at these places is not very costly.

Local Transport:
Auto rickshaws, Cycle-rickshaws, tangas.

In Emergency, Contact, STD Code: 06324
District Magistrate: 212240, 212253, 9431413443
Superintendent of Police: 212263, 214389, 9430410983

Medical Emergencies,Contact, STD Code: 06324
Civil surgeon: 212270, 9431227180
Sadar Hospital: 217579
Dr. Akhilesh k Mohan (Paediatrician): 9431251709
Dr. Prabhakar Singh (Physician): 9431831409
Dr. A.K.Arun (Physician): 9431257217
Dr. Madhu Sinha (Gynaecologist): 9771700421

Tourist Season
October to March.

Clothing:
Light cotton in summer and woolen in winter (specially during November to January).

Tourist places in Rohtas

Introduction

Sasaram, the headquarters town of Rohtas district, is steeped in history. It is an important railway station between Mughalsarai and Gaya. The station has a stoppage of all the important trains. The Grand Trunk Road also passes through the town.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

Tomb of Sher Shah
The magnificent mausoleum of Sher Shah in the town is one of the noblest specimens of Pathan architecture in India. It stands in the middle of a tank.

Rohtas Fort

One of the most interesting places in Bihar is the ancient hill fort situated on Kaimur hills, some 1490 ft above sea level. It is 70 km away from Sasaram.

Tomb of Hasan Khan Suri

In the centre of the historical town is the mausoleum of Hasan Khan Suri, the father of Emperor Sher Shah (1538 AD).The tomb consists of an octagonal hall surmounted by a large dome and is surrounded by an arcade which is crowned on each side by three small domes.

Tomb of Salim Shah

In the middle of a large tank, about half a mile to the north-west of Shershah’s tomb, is situated the tomb of his son, Emperor Salim Shah.

Tomb of Alawal Khan

Outside the town to the south is the tomb of Alawal Khan. Khan was the officer in charge of the building of Sher Shah’s mausoleum and took advantage of his position to appropriate the finest stone for his own tomb.

Mundeshwari Mandir

Mundeshwari temple is one of the oldest Hindu monuments in Bihar. It is located on the summit of an isolated hill, seven miles north west of Bhabhua, the headquarters town of Kaimur district. Kaimur is adjacent to Rohtas. The nearest railway station is Bhabhua Road. The temple is in the shape of an octagon. Octagonal ground plan for a temple is rather rare.

HOW TO REACH

By Air:

Nearest Airport
Jaiprakash Narayan International Airport, Patna (147kms) Gaya International Airport, Gaya (About 125 kms)

By Rail:

Nearest railhead
Sasaram

By Road:
Connected by good roads with all Indian cities.

Where to Stay:
Hotel Sher Shah, a unit of Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation, Phone: 221267 AC rooms and restaurant facility available
Hotel Gopal Deluxe, Phone: 224366
Hotel Jaya, Phone: 221277
Hotel Vijay, Phone: 222323

Emergency, Contact

District Magistrate: 222226 (Off), 222224 (Res), 9431632414 (Mobile)
Superintendent of Police: 253204 (Off), 253205 (Res), 9431822978 (Mobile)

Medical Emergencies,Contact Anjani Arogya Institution: 221215
Civil Surgeon: 222039
Chauhan Fracture Nursing Home: 222101
Gayatri Nursing Home: 222488

Local Transport:
Auto rickshaws, Cycle-rickshaws, tangas.

Tourist Season:
October to March.

Clothing:
Light cotton in summer and woolen in winter (specially during November to January).

Tourist places in Saharsa

Introduction

Saharsa, now a divisional headquarter situated nearly 272 km away from the state capital Patna, was a part of Bhagalpur district in the pre-independence days. Carved out as a separate district in April 1954, Saharsa has been a place of attraction for the tourists mainly because of its historical, religious and cultural heritage.

In 1905,a copper platewas discovered from Bangaon village which is said to have brought to light a new history of the Pala dynasty. Archaeological remains are scattered in different parts of the district.

Places of Interest

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

Mahishi TaraTemple

Seventeen km from Saharsa,Mahishi village is known for an ancient temple of goddess Ugra Tara which is also believed to be a Shakti peetha.The legend has it that the right eye of Sati had fallen here.The temple has a three-ft-Iong statue of Tara,accompaniedby two other deities, Ekjataand Neel Saraswati,on the two sides.

The temple is associated with Tantrik cult where saints and other devotees from far and wide acrossthe country assemble during the ten-day-Iong Sharadiya Navaratra for penance. Although devotees from various parts of the country visit the place throughout the year,the main attraction of the temple is Dussehrain September-October during which more than one lakh people come here to worship the goddess.

Mandan Dham

Mahishi village takes pride in being the birthplace of legendary 8th century scholarand philosopher Pundit Mandan Mishra. He along with his wife Bharati made precious contributions to Indian philosophy. It is said Mandan was the senior contemporary of Adi Shankaracharya. During his ideological conquest for the propagation of sanatandharma, Adi 5 hankaracharya visited Mahishi for a philosophical debate with Mandan.

The birth place of Mandan is an upland, though barren where people from various states, particularly those in south India, come to salute the scholar whose books Brahmasiddhi, Meemansanukramanika and Vidhi Vivek,to namea few, are the gems of Indian philosophy.

Mandan’s better half, Bharati,was also a scholar par excellence and sheis believed to have once defeated Shankaracharya in debate.

Kandaha Sun Temple

About 13 km west to the district HQ of Saharsa,Kandahais a sleepy hamlet known for antiquities.There’s a temple of sungod here in which nearly three-and-a-half-feet-Iong and and three-feet-wide statue of sungod is exquisitely shown riding seven horses with many other deities on both sides.

The peculiarity of the temple is an inscription on the marginal threshold of the sanctum sancto- rum which, already deciphered, establishes that the temple dates back to the 14th century. The emple, built by the king of the Oinwar dynasty, Narsingh Deo, a contemporary of Maithili poet Vidyapati, is the only sun temple n Bihar after the famous temple at Deo in Aurangabad district. There are two wells on the temple premises, namely Suryakoop and Chandrakoop, the sacred water of which is believed to have curative effects for leprosy and other skin diseases.

Bangaon

About nine km from Saharsa, Bangaon is an ancient village dominated by Maithil Brahmins. But the village is better known as the workplace of well-known 18th century saint poet laxmi Nath Gosai. He was a yogi,a saint and a poet who wrote and. sang religious songs which are still sung by the people of the area with great reverence. The goddess Durga temple at Bangaonis also a centre of attraction where a large number of people offer their prayers during the Navratrain September-October

Dewna Deeh

Close to Bangaon, Dewna Deeh is known for the lord Shiva temple situated here. There are many other deities in the temple.

Karu Sthan

Situated on the bank of Kosi river and hardly two km away from Mahishi Tara Sthan is a temple of folk-god Karu Khirhari who was a fighter, a yogi and a devotee of lord Shiva. He was also a great lover of domestic animals, particularly cows. Out of his reverence for lord Shiva, he had named his cows as Mahesri, Kusesri, Nakuchesri, Umesri etc. It is said Karu Baba had sacrificed his life to save a cow from a tiger.

People from various parts of Bihar and Nepal visit this temple and offer milk, vegetable and ganja to Karu Baba. On the day of Saptami during Navaratra, the temple is jampacked with tourists from far and wide. Such a huge quantity of milk is offered to Karu Baba that day that every one reaching there is fed ‘tasmai’, a special dish prepared by mixing rice in pure milk.

Biratpur Chandi Sthan

In ascetic circles, Tara Temple at Mahishi, Katyayaini Temple near Dhamar Ghat in Khagaria district and Chandi Temple at Biratpur village under Sonbarsa block of Saharsa district form a holy triangle (trikonyantra) which is of special reverence in the Tantrik cult of worship. Goddess Chandi is another form or incarnation of goddess Durga. Nearly 35 km away from Saharsa, Biratpur is also associated with the Mahabharata legend of King Birat. There is a big mound near the temple which is believed to be the place where the Pandavas had lived for twelve years during their exile.

Matsyagandha Complex & Raktakali Temple

A separate temple of 64 mahayoginis, believed to be rare in India and sacred in Hindu pantheon, is the special attraction of the site where also exists a beautiful temple of Raktakali, built on the pattern of monastery architecture. There’s also a huge pond which offers water sport facilities. The opening of a tourist hotel, Hotel Koshi Bihar, has added to the attraction of this spot. People come from different places for offering puja to the goddess Kali during Diwali festival. The state government celebrates the occasion as a state festival.

HOW TO REACH:

Saharsa has been connected with road and rail links. There are two daily trains from Patna, two weekly and bi-weekly trains from Delhi and a tri-weekly train from Kolkatato Saharsa. Peoplealso come to Saharsaby road asthe place has been linked with the national highway.

By Air:

Nearest Airport:
Gaya International Airport (About 308 kms) Jaiprakash Narayan International Airport, Patna (234kms).

By Rail:

Nearest railhead
Dauram Madhepura

By Road:
Connected by good roads with all Indian cities.

Where to Stay:

Government Circuit House
PWD Inspection Bungalow
Kosi Project Inspection Bungalow
Hotel Kosi Bihar
(Owned by Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation) Hotel Kosi Niwas
Hotel Vijeya
Hotel Embassy
Hotel Satkar
AC and non-AC rooms are available with tariff being moderate.

WHERE TO EAT: Dozens of local hotels, restaurants and dhabas are there in the city.
Government Circuit House
PWD Inspection Bungalow
Koshi Project Inspection Bungalow
Hotel Kosi Bihar (Owned by Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation)
Hotel Kosi Niwas
Hotel Vijeya
Hotel Embassy
Hotel Satkar

Local Transport:
Auto rickshaws, Cycle-rickshaws, tangas.

In Emergency, Contact, STD Code: 06478
Divisional Commissioner: 224984 (Off), 223604 (Res), 9431243377
Deputy Inspector General of Police: 223488 (Off), 223688 (Res), 9431012708
District Magistrate: 224102 (Off), 223601 (Res), 9431243600
Superintendent of Police: 224556 (Off), 225554 (Res), 9431602642

Medical Emergencies,Contact, STD Code:06478
Dr. A.K.Issar: 223525, 225291
Dr. Anil Kumar Pathak: 223673, 223693, 9431243002
Dr. A.K.Mishra: 224314
Dr. B.N.Mishra: 224696
Dr. A.K.Choudhary: 224620, 223363

Tourist Season:
October to March.

Clothing:
Light cotton in summer and woolen in winter (specially during November to January).