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Rajgir is to found at a distance of 15 km from Nalanda in Bihar. It was the capital of the Magadh Mahajanpada when Patliputra was not established. In the ancient times, Rajgir was called Rajgriha, which means the 'Home of Royalty'. This place is important because Buddha spent many years in Rajgir and also delivered some significant discourses here. Buddha converted Emperor Bimbisar to Buddhism at the Griddhakoota Hill in Rajgir. The teachings of Buddha were written down at Rajgir and it was also the venue for the First Buddhist Council. Other famous places of Rajgir are Vishwa Shanti Stupa, Venu Vana Monastery, Griddhakoota Hill.
The picturesque Rajgir, or Rajagriha as it was known in the past (literally, the abode of kings) is surrounded by the meandering river Banganga and 5 hills. The city of Rajgir is reputed as one of the Buddhist pilgrimage destinations in India as Buddha had spent several months as he meditated over here and later he preached at Griddhkuta also known as the Hill of the Vultures. Rajgir was the witness to some of the famed sermons of Buddha. The hill caves of Saptparni are the place to have organized the First Buddhist Council and the Rajgir Hot Water Springs having curative properties has originated from the Saptparni cave. The various ancient Buddhist monasteries are important tourist attractions in Rajgir. Gridhakuta or Vulture’s Peak is a key tourist and pilgrimage destination in Rajgir is now topped by the Shanti Stupa built by the Japanese devotees. Pipphali House is known to have housed Maha Kassapa few times.
During the lifetime of the Buddha this was the capital of the powerful Magadhan kingdom, ruled by the virtuous King Bimbisara. The hills and caves surrounding Rajagriha were home to spiritual teachers, ranging from the materialism of the early Charavaka school to the metaphysics of Upanishadic philosophers.
Like many others in search of truth, Prince Siddhartha, after he renounced his royal heritage came to this city to seek the path of vation.
Siddhartha overwhelmed the citizens of Rajagriha with his serenity and grace. Even the king went to meet the ascetic and was amazed to learn that he was a kshatriya of royal descent. Bimbisara offered half his kingdom to Siddhartha but all he received was an assurance that when Siddhartha achieved his gola he would return to Rajagriha.
The first Buddhist structures at Rajgir were raised when Ajatsatni built a monastery, and a stupa over his share of the Buddha's ashes. That reliquary is now a mound used as a graveyard. The Japanese much later have built the World Peace Stupa, with its gilded images of the Buddha. Rajgir also has the Nipponzan Myohoji, the Japanese temple, and the Centaur Hokke Club which offers some traditional facilities to Japanese pilgrims.
Venuvana was the first ever created Buddhist monastery. The famous Hot Water Springs are Karand Tank, Maniyar Math, Swarnabhandar Cave, Pippala Cave, Viswa Shanti Stupa.The other tourist destinations in the form of monasteries located in Rajgir are Jivakarama, Tapodarama, and the Saptaparni Cave is known to have housed the monks during their traveling sessions. The various Hindu Sites in Rajgir are Jarasandha Ka Akhara, and Lakshmi Narayan Mandir. The various archeological sites in Rajgir are Karnada Tank, Maniyar Math, Maraka Kukshi, Rannbhumi, Swarnabhandar Cave, and Viswa Shanti Stupa.
Sites of ancient Buddhist monasteries
Gridhakuta (Vulture's Peak)
The hill is listed in Buddhist canonical texts as one of the places stayed in by the Buddha when at Rajgir; and several notable events, including an attempt on his life by his evil cousin Devadatta occurred there. The Mahayana tradition goes further; a number of its major texts, most famously the Lotus Sutra, were supposedly delivered as sermons there. As such, it is a major destinations for pilgrims in both ancient and modern times. Described both by Faxian and Xuanzang it was identified in the later nineteenth century as a hill lying to the east of Old Rajgir. It is now crowned by the Japanese-built Shanti Stupa and has a chairlift to the top.
Pipphali House or Cave
This is a place mentioned in the Pali Canon. It is where Maha Kassapa is recorded to have stayed a few times, once he was ill there. Maha Kassappa stayed at the cave, but also there was a house with the same name nearby.
Venuvana
Bimbisara gave a bamboo grove (Venuvana) to Lord Buddha, which was the first Buddhist monastery ever. It was given to Buddha so that he and his monks could take rest here, and give discourses to people.
Karand Tank, Maniyar Math, Swarnabhandar Cave, Pippala Cave, Viswa Shanti Stupa, the famous Hot Water Springs and ruins of an Old Fort, 40 km long and 12 ft (3.7 m) wide 2,500 year old cyclopean walls.
Jivakarama
Remains of the monastery called Jivakambavana
Jivaka, the greatest physician of Buddha's time, was from Rajgir. He donated a monastery to Buddha, called the Jivakarama.
Tapodarama
The Tapodarama Monastery was located on the site of the hot springs. Now a Hindu temple is constructed there, called the Lakshmi Narayan Mandir. In ancient times, hot springs used to be the site of the Tapodarama, a Buddhist monastery at the time of Gautama Buddha. Also King Bimbisara used to take his bath there sometimes.
Saptaparni Cave
The cave of Saptparni is where the First Buddhist Council was held under the leadership of Maha Kassapa. Also Buddha sometimes stayed there, and it was used as an accommodation for visiting monks.
Hindu Sites
Jarasandha Ka Akhara
The great albeit evil warrior whose relentless attacks on Mathura prompted Lord Krishna to migrate the populace of Mathura to Dwarika, used to practice martial arts here every day.
Lakshmi Narayan Mandir
Hindu Devotees bathing in the Lakshmi Narayan Mandir
The pink-hued Hindu temple called the Lakshmi Narayan Mandir has within its grounds the ancient hot springs. The temple is (as the name indicates), dedicated to Lord Vishnu and his consort, Goddess Lakshmi. In more ancient times, hot springs used to be the site of the Tapodarama, a Buddhist monastery at the time of Gautama Buddha. Also King Bimbisara used to take his bath there sometimes.
Originally a dip in the pond was the only means of experiencing the hot springs, but now at a higher level the spring has been tapped and flows out through several ceramic pipes set into the wall in a hall, where people can sit under it and have the water run over them.
Other archaeological sites including:
1. the Karnada Tank where Lord Buddha used to bathe
2. the Maniyar Math that dates from the 1st century CE
3. the Maraka Kukshi where the still unborn Ajatashatru was cursed as a patricide
4. the Rannbhumi where Bhima and Jarasandh fought one of the Mahabharat battles.
5. Swarnabhandar Cave
6. Viswa Shanti Stupa
7. Ruins of an Old Fort
8. 40 km long and 12 ft (3.7 m) wide 2500 year old cyclopean walls.
Ancient Chariot tracks
The Chariot Route and shell inscriptions are worth a visit for the strangeness of the phenomenon. The chariot tracks consist of two parallel furrows cut deep into the rock for about thirty feet, possibly by the large quantity of chariots that came to deliver goods to Rajgir.
The local belief is that they were "burnt" into the rock by the speed and power of Lord Krishna's chariot when he entered the city of Rajgir during the epic Mahabharata times. Several shell inscriptions, the un-deciphered characters current in central and eastern India from the 1st to the 5th centuries CE, are engraved in the rock around the chariot marks.
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