705 / 822
s
Eternal India
encyclopedia
A GREAT DESTINATION
Nalanda
: 90 km south of Patna. Once the site of world famous
Buddhist University, Nalanda, accommodating 10,000 students.
It was sacked & burnt by Muslims. Hiuen-Tsang, Chinese
scholar stayed here for 5 years. The excavated ruins are im-
mensely impressive with chapels, monasteries & lecture halls
spreading symmetrically. An international centre for the study of
Buddhism was established here in 1951.
Rajagriha
: 103 km from Patna, ancient capital of Magadha empire.
The first Buddhist council was held here after the Buddha attained
Nirvana.
Pawapuri
:104 km from Patna. Mahavira attained Nirvana here.
White marble temples dominate this holy place. Jal Mandir, a
shrine amidst a lake, is a serene sight.
Parashnath Hill
: 200 km from Pawapuri. Jain pilgrimage centre. 21
out of the 24 Tirthankaras attained their Nirvana here. The hill
derives its name from Parashnath, the 23rd Tirthankara.
Maner
: 29 km west of Patna earliest seat of Islam in Bihar. Here
lived, in the 13th century, a famous Sufi saint, Pir Hazrat
Makhadun Yahiya Maneri. His tomb is known as Bane Dargah
while his disciple Shah Daulat's tomb is known as Chhoti Dargah.
Bihar-Shariff
: 64 km from Patna, important centre of Muslim
culture during 13-16th centuries. The tomb of a saint, Pir
Mukhdum Shah Sharifuddin, is the object of pilgrimage for the
Muslims.
Sasaram
: 193 km from Patna. One of the finest buildings of
medieval India. Mausoleum of Sher Shah. The Mausoleum stands
in an artificial lake.
Ranchi
: Hill resort, 338 km from Patna a number of waterfalls in-
cluding the famous Hudru‘Falls.
Jamshedpur
: Steel city founded in 1907 by Sir Jamshedji Tata. The
gigantic factory complex of the Tata Iron & Steel Company domi-
nates the city. Nearby is Dimna lake. One of the popular beauty
spots of the state.
Hazaribagh
: At an altitude of 2000 feet is an ideal summer resort.
A few km from the city is the Hazaribagh National Park.
Maithon
: Biggest reservoir of Damodar valley project covering
104 sq.km.
Sindhri
: 77 km from Maithon largest fertiliser factory in Asia.
Panchet Dam
: 16 km from Maithon - biggest dam in Damodar
valley project - 6 km long.
Konar Dam
: 56km from Hazaribagh. Flowering trees and shrubs
surround the lake.
Damodar Valley Project
: The project impounds waters of the
Damodar river and its tributaries through a number of dams and
utilises it for power generation and irrigation. The two states
served are Bihar & West Bengal.
Tilaiya Dam:
Reservoir flanked by two green hills.
Bhagalpur
: University town, famous for Barari caves and rockcut
temple at Colgang. In a forest south of the city is the Mandar hill
capped by a Vishnu temple.
Sultanganj
: Near Bhagalpur. Famous for Ajigaivanath temple
dedicated to Lord Shiva. It stands on an islet in the middle of the
river. On the other bank stands a beautiful mosque.
Deoghar
: Baidyanath Dham Tapobana, Karamibagh Trikut &
Nandan hills, Anukul Thakur's Ashram are the other attractions.
Top Chanchi Lake
: 37 km from Dhanbad, coal mining city of Bihar.
Top Chanchi is an ideal resort.
Bokaro
: Thermal power plant & steel plant.
Simultala
: Health resort.
Jasidih
: Hill resort.
Kumrahar:
11km from Patna railway station. Site of ancient city of
Pataliputra. It was earlier the capital of Chandragupta (321-297
B.C) & Bindusara (297-274 B.C) before Ashoka ruled here be-
tween 274 & 237 B.C. Megasthenes, the Greek ambassador in
Chandragupta Maurya's court, wrote that the royal palace ex-
celled in splendour the palaces of the Egyptian, Babylonian and
Cretan monarchs. Here polished sand stone columns have been
found with decayed woodwork still clinging to some of them.
Golghar
: Huge, hemispherical granary, built in 1786 has two spiral
stair cases. From its top one can have a panoramic view of the city
and its suburbs. Was built as a granary to store surpluses
against famines. It is about 25m high. It was built by Captain John
Garstin, on the advice of British Governor General Warren
Hastings, following the terrible famine of 1770.
Harmandir
: One of the holiest Sikh shrines. In 1666, the last of
the ten Sikh Gurus, Guru Gobind Singh was born here. The marble
temple was built by the illustrious 19th century Sikh king of
Punjab Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Celebrations to mark the Guru's
birthday are held here in Dec- Jan of each year.
Khudabaksh Oriental Library
: Contains many rare Persian &
Arabic manuscripts, Moghul & Rajput paintings, a number of them
are beautifully illuminated.
Patna Museum
:-Beautiful sculptures and bronze images, Tibetan
antiques, a fine collection of coins.
Sonepur
: Venue of the world's largest cattle fair held in the month
of November. Once even elephants were brought for sale here!
Jalan's Qila
: Houses a collection of rare antiques, including
carvings on jade and precious stones.
Sher Shahi
: Built by Afghan ruler Sher Shah in 1545, is the oldest
mosque in Patna.
Datar Ki Masjid
: Emperor Jehangir's son Parvez built this
mosque on the banks of the river Ganga. Also known as Saif
Khan's mosque.
Sadaquat Ashram
: Residence of India's first president
Dr.Rajendra Prasad. It is the seat of Bihar Vidyapith, a national
University since 1921.
Padri-Ki-Haweli
: This 18th century Roman Catholic Church
was built in 1751 by the Capuchin fathers.
Biological park
: Zoo-cum-Botanical garden.
GOA
This tiny former Portuguese territory has some of the world's
best beaches and is inhabited by easy going, hospitable people.