 Nalanda,
founded in the 5th century AD, is famous as the ancient seat of
learning. The ruins of the world's most ancient university lies here
which is 62 km from Bodhgaya and 90 km south of Patna. Though the
Buddha visited Nalanda several times during his lifetime, this
famous center of Buddhist learning shot to fame much later, during
5th-12th centuries. Hieun Tsang stayed here in the 7th century AD
and left detailed description of the excellence of education system
and purity of monastic life practiced here. He also gave a vivid
account of both the ambiance and architecture of this unique
university of ancient times. In this first residential international
university of the world, 2,000 teachers and 10,000 monks students
from all over the Buddhist world lived and studied here. The Gupta
kings patronized these monasteries, built in old Kushan
architectural style, in a row of cells around a courtyard. Emperor
Ashoka and Harshavardhana were some of its most celebrated patrons
who built temples, monasteries and viharas here. Recent excavations
have unearthed elaborate structures here. An International Center
for Buddhist Studies was established here in 1951. Nearby is
Biharsharif, where an annual urs is celebrated at the Dargah or tomb
of Malik Ibrahim Baya. Baragaon, 2 km away has a sun temple, famous
for Chhath puja. To be visited are Nalanda museum & Nava Nalanda
Mahavihar in addition to the great ruins.
Nalanda
University Ruins Archaeological Complex: The total area
of the
excavation is about 14 hectares. All the edifices are of the red
brick and the gardens are beautiful. The buildings are divided by a
central walk way that goes south to north. The monasteries or "Viharas"
are east of this central alley and the temple or "Chaiyas" to the
west. The Vihara-1 is perhaps the most interesting with its cells on
two floors built around a cercal courtyard where steps lead up
to what must have been a dais for the professors to address their
students. A small chapel still retains a half broken statue of the
Lord Buddha.
The enormous pyramidal mass of the
Temple no .3 is impressive and from its top commands a splendid view
of the entire area. It is surrounded by smaller stupas,many of which
studded with small and big statues of the Lord Buddha in Various
poses or "Mudras"
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