Photo: Photo Dharma from Penang, Malaysia / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
📍 Nalanda, South Bihar, Bihar
Perched on Ratnagiri Hill, this gleaming white marble peace pagoda is one of Rajgir's most iconic sights, offering sweeping views over the surrounding hills. Built by the Japanese Buddhist Nipponzan-Myohoji order, its four golden Buddha statues face the cardinal directions in serene calm. Reaching it by the single-seat chairlift ropeway is a memorable experience in itself.
The Vishwa Shanti Stupa (World Peace Pagoda) at Rajgir was completed in 1969 and stands about 400 metres above the valley on Ratnagiri Hill. It is a symbol of world peace and non-violence, and one of several such pagodas built around the world by Nichidatsu Fujii.
Key things to see:
October to March, with clear skies best for the ropeway ride and hilltop views.
Nature & Waterfalls A famous cluster of sacred hot springs at the foot of the Vaibhavgiri hills in Rajgir, fed by streams known as the Saptdhara. Brahmakund, the hottest at around 45 °C, is revered by Hindus who believe the waters can cure ailments. The springs have drawn pilgrims for over two thousand years, set amid a landscape sacred to Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism alike.
Buddhist Circuit Cradled by seven hills, Rajgir was the first capital of the mighty Magadha empire and a place sacred to Buddhists, Jains and Hindus alike. The Buddha spent many rainy seasons here preaching on Gridhakuta (Vulture's Peak), and Mahavira too taught in these hills. Today its hot springs, cyclopean walls, ropeway and glass bridge make it one of Bihar's most rewarding destinations.
Jain Sites Pawapuri is one of the holiest sites in Jainism, the place where Lord Mahavira attained Nirvana (moksha) and was cremated. The exquisite white marble Jal Mandir rises from the centre of a serene lotusfilled tank, reached by a long walkway across the water. The tank is believed to have formed where devotees took away soil after Mahavira's cremation, making it a deeply revered pilgrimage.
Museums Set right beside the Nalanda ruins, this museum houses the finest antiquities excavated from the great ancient university. Its galleries display exquisite stone and bronze images of the Buddha and Bodhisattvas, terracotta plaques, seals, coins and inscriptions spanning the Gupta and Pala periods. It is the perfect complement to a visit to the ruins, bringing the site's scholarly and artistic legacy to life.
