Nalanda

India is known to the world as an ancient center for learning especially due to the presence of the place in Bihar called Nalanda. It is one of the earliest site of learning and knowledge not only of the country but of the world at large. The city of Nalanda is at present a place filled with the ruins of the ancient past consisting of the widely scattered red sandstones.

Whenever you turn back towards the rich cultural heritage of India in the age old days you will find the name of the Nalanda University. It had been the oldest university in the country. The university at Nalanda was founded by the rulers of the Gupta dynasty. The Nalanda University was the center of attraction for the students especially the Buddhist ones who used to come to this place from far and wide places of the world.

Nalanda University witnessed the emergence of the great scholars like Hiuen Tsang and Fahien who came to this place from their distant countries to learn in the university. Both of them have left immensely important accounts of the then Nalanda in Bihar. The accounts of these scholars form an important source of knowledge about the education, lifestyle, socio-economic conditions as well as the overall feature of Nalanda in the ancient past.

The early records show that Nalanda was frequently visited by Lord Mahavira as well as Lord Buddha. So the place is blessed with a great influence of these incarnations.

Whenever you go to Nalanda at Bihar you must see:

• Nava Nalanda Mahavihar
• Nalanda Museum

At present the Nalanda University is nothing but a region spotted with the ruins of the glorious past. The ruins at Nalanda are the testimonials of the architectures of the Kushana period.