Photo: Prataparya / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
📍 Bhagalpur, East Bihar, Bihar
Vikramshila was one of the two greatest Buddhist universities of ancient India, alongside Nalanda, founded by the Pala king Dharmapala in the late 8th century. It was a leading centre of Tantric Buddhism and produced renowned scholars such as Atisha Dipankara, who carried Buddhism to Tibet. Its imposing cruciform stupa and grid of monk cells, set beside the Ganga, make it a quiet, evocative heritage site.
Vikramshila (at Antichak) flourished for around four centuries until it was destroyed in the late 12th–early 13th century. Excavations have revealed a large monastery laid out around a central cruciform stupa, along with a library, votive stupas and a great variety of sculptures in stone, terracotta and metal.
Key things to see:
October to March, ideal for exploring the riverside ruins comfortably.
A tranquil oxbow lake in the Amdabad area of Katihar, flanked by the Mahananda and the Ganga. Gogabil is Bihar's first Community Reserve and, in 2025, became a Ramsar site of international importance. In winter its yearround waters draw flocks of migratory ducks, geese and waders, making it a rewarding spot for birdwatchers in the state's far east.
Hindu Temples An ancient Lord Shiva temple perched dramatically on a rock island in the middle of the Ganga at Sultanganj. It is the starting point of the famous Shravani Mela, when saffronclad Kanwariyas collect holy Ganga water here and carry it on foot to Baidyanath Dham in Deoghar, about 100 km away. The rock is carved with ancient sculptures and inscriptions.
Forts & Palaces A more than 300yearold ruined fort north of Purnia, built by the region's Mughalera rulers to guard against invasions from the Nepal frontier. This large quadrangular fortress once housed thousands of soldiers behind its high walls and strong gates. Now overgrown and atmospheric, it is a State Protected Monument set amid the plains of northeast Bihar.
A revered natural hot spring near Munger, linked in legend to Sita's fire ordeal (agni pariksha) from the Ramayana. The main warm spring is surrounded by cooler pools named Ram, Lakshman, Bharat and Shatrughna Kund. Its geothermal waters are believed to have healing properties, drawing pilgrims and visitors alike.
