NALANDA CITY GUIDE
Though the Buddha visited Nalanda several times during
his lifetime, this famous centre of Buddhist learning shot to fame much later,
during 5th-12th centuries. The Chinese scholar and traveller Hiuen Tsang stayed
here in the 7th century, and has left an elaborate description of the
excellence, and purity of monastic life practised here. About 2,000 teachers
and 10,000 students from all over the Buddhist world, lived and studied in this
international university.
The Gupta kings patronised these monasteries, built in old Kushan architectural
style, in a row of cells around a courtyard. Kings Ashoka and Harshavardhana
were some of its most famous patrons, who built impressive temples and
monasteries. Recent excavations have unearthed elaborate structures. An
international centre for Buddhist Studies was established in 1951. The Nalanda
Museum and the Nava Nalanda Mahavihar are definitely worth a visit.
Lauria Areraj is a 11.5 m high Ashokan column, erected in 249 BC. The polished
sandstone pillar has six edicts on it. Lauria Nandangarh is the site of the
famous Lion pillar, erected by king Ashoka. The 8.5 m polished sandstone column
also has an edict engraved on it. The Nandangarh stupa, nearby, is believed to
house the ashes of the Buddha.