Rajgir & Nalanda

Rajgir & Nalanda Review

These two towns are 85 km (53 mi) and 101 km (63 mi), respectively, northeast of Bodhgaya, a four-hour train ride on the Budhpurnima Express, which leaves Gaya three afternoons a week, arriving in Nalanda at 5:30 and Rajgir 20 minutes later. (The timing of this requires an overnight stay.) Alternatively, you can take a three-hour taxi ride on rough roads. Rajgir is the capital of the 6th-century BC kingdom of Magadha and the site of the first Buddhist Council in Buddha's time. Today the town, encircled by remnants of a pre-Mauryan cyclopean wall and known for its hot springs, is a winter health resort. A chairlift leads to an impressive contemporary Peace Pagoda erected by Japanese Buddhists on the hilltop where the Buddha preached each year during the rainy season. Treks lead to 26 Jain temples. If you have time, visit the redbrick ruins of the great 5th-century Buddhist university at Nalanda, but don't go on Friday, when the archaeological museum, with Buddhist and Hindu bronzes and statues of the Buddha found in the area, is closed. Middle Way Travels can organize a trip for you. You can also get information at the Bodhgaya tourist office.