Rajgir, known earlier as 'Rajagriha' or Girivaraja, nestles in the rocky hills,
that witnessed the teachings of both Buddha and Mahavira.Rajgir is 10km south
of Nalanda and sacred to the memory of the founder of both Buddhism and Jainism.
Lord Buddha spent many months of retreat during the rainy season here, and used
to meditate and preach on Griddhkuta, the 'Hill of the Vultures'. Lord Mahavir
spent fourteen years of his life at Rajgir and Nalanda.
It was in Rajgriha that Lord Buddha delivered some of his famous sermons and
converted king Bimbisara of the Magasha Kingdom and countless others to his
creed. Once a great city, Rajgir is just a village today, but vestiges of a
legendary and historical past remain, like the cyclopean wall that encircles
the town and the marks engraved in rock that local folklore ascribes to Lord
Krishna's chariot. This legend, like many others associates Rajgir to that distant
time when the stirring events recorded in the epic Mahabharata were being enacted.
An aerial ropeway provides the link with a hill-top stupa "Peace Pagoda"
built by the Japanese. On one of the hills in the cave of Saptparni, was held
the first Buddhist Council. The Saptparni cave is also the source of the Rajgir
Hot Water Springs that have curative properties and are sacred to the Hindus.
Today, Rajgir is a picturesque and serene place, visited by pilgrims from all
over the globe. It has also gained recognition as a health resort, thanks to
the famous hot springs.
