Content on this page requires a newer version of Adobe Flash Player.

Get Adobe Flash player


Bihar

 

Of all India’s states, Bihar is the one most intimately linked to the Buddha’s life, resulting in a trail of pilgrimages which have come to be known as the Buddhist circuit. The very name Bihar is derived from the world ’vihara’, which means Buddhist monastery. The Buddhist trail begins at the capital city, Patna, where a noteworthy museum contains a collection of Hindu and Buddhist sculptures. The Khuda Baksh Oriental Library has rare Muslim manuscripts including some from the University of Cordoba in Spain. 40 km away, Vaishali was the site for the second Buddhist Council as the presence of ruins testify. 90 km south of Patna is Nalanda which translates as ’the place that confers the lotus’ (of spiritual knowledge).

 

 


Important Facts

Capital: Patna
Area: 94.163 km²
Population: 96.444.000 (2008)
Altitude: 50 m
Language Hindi, Urdu, Bihari(Maithili, Bhojpuri, Magahi u. a.), Bengali, Santali, English

 

Places to Visit

  • Bodhgaya
  • Nalanda
  • Patna
  • Pawapuri
  • Rajgir
  • Vaishali
  • Vikramshila