The lesser known Indian state of Bihar is often overlooked by general travelers who usually prefer to visit other states in India like Kerala, Rajasthan, Delhi and Gujarat etc. in the mistaken belief that Bihar does not have much to offer. , and a visit would prove to be a great waste of precious time and money. This is a completely wrong assumption based on facts that don’t exist in the first place.
An important center of power, learning and culture throughout the centuries, Bihar is a great state and an attractive tourist destination. The state has given many major religions to the world such as Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism, and to some extent Sikhism.
Also, the world famous books Arthashtra and Kamasutra were written here, which to date remain the best books in their categories. Many renowned writers and poets like Ramdhari Singh ‘Dinkar’, Phanishwar Nath Renu, Baba Nagarjun and Vidyapati are from Bihar. Among the world famous modern writers, Upamanyu Chatterjee is from Bihar. Bihar is also the place where the world’s largest cattle fair (Sonepur Fair) is held annually.
Bihar Tourist Places
This marvelous state also has several attractive tourist spots with great religious and historical connection such as Patna, Bodh Gaya, Nalanda, Vaishali and Rajgir, which greatly inspire spiritually inclined travelers.
patna
Patna, the best-known tourist spot in the state, is not only the capital of Bihar and a leading educational and medical center in the region; it is also one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. Earlier called Pataliputra and Azimabad, Patna is located alongside the Ganges and is literally dotted with several attractive tourist spots including but not limited to Patna Museum, Gol Ghar and Patna Sahib Gurudwara.
bodhgaya
Bodh Gaya is one of the four most important Buddhist sites in the world (perhaps the most important) and a major pilgrimage center. Very famous for the 2,500-year-old Mahabodhi Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Bodh Gaya also has the famous Bodhi Tree under which Lord Buddha is believed to have gained enlightenment that ultimately shaped the destiny of the country and , to some extent, measure, the world. Bodh Gaya also has several beautiful Buddhist temples built by some foreign nations such as Sri Lanka, Japan and Thailand, which greatly attract religiously inclined visitors.
Vaishali
Vaishali, another prominent Bihar tourist spot, has the distinction of being one of the world’s earliest republics. It is also the place where the founder of Jainism, Lord Mahavira, was born. The place is highly revered by Buddhists as Lord Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, delivered his last sermon here.
Nalanda
Nalanda, another renowned Bihar tourist spot with a great past, was a world famous center of Buddhist learning in the distant past. Today, it houses impressive ruins of the 5th century BC Nalanda University. C., which in the remote past had attracted students from all over the world.
rajgir
Rajgir, another key tourist spot in Bihar, was the former capital of the Magadha Empire. One of the famous pilgrimage centers of the state, Rajgir is equally revered by Buddhists and Jains as both Lord Buddha and Lord Mahavira placed great importance on the place during their lifetime. In fact, Lord Mahavira died near Rajgir, at a place called Pawapuri.