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).