Places of Interest in Rajgir
Swarna Bhandar :
Two rather strange cave chambers were hollowed out of a single massive rock.
One of the chambers is believed to have been the guard room, the rear wall has
two straight vertical lines and one horizontal line cut into the rock; this
'doorway' is supposed to lead to king Bimbisara treasury. Inscriptions in the
Sankhalipi or shell script, etched into the wall and so far undeciphered, are
believed to give the clue to open the doorway. The treasure, according to folklore,
is still intact.
The second chamber bears a few traces of seated and standing guards etched into
the outer wall.
The Cyclopean Wall :
Once 40 km. long, it encircled ancient Rajgir. Built of massive undressed stone
carefully fitted together, the wall is one of the few important pre-Mauryan
stone structures ever to have been found. Trace of the wall still subsist, particularly
at the exit of Rajgir to Gaya.
Amaravana or Jivaka's Mango Garden :
Site of the Royal Physician's dispensary where the Lord Buddha was once brought
to have wound dressed by Jivaka, the royal physician during the reign of Ajatashatru
and Bimbisara.
Venuvana :
Site of the monastery Venuvana Vihar built by king Bimbisara for Lord Buddha
to reside. This was the King's first offering to Lord Buddha.
Ajatashatru's Fort :
Built by Ajatashatru (6th century B.C.), the king of Magadha during the Buddha's
time. The 6.5 sq. metre Ajatashatru's Stupa is also believed to have been built
by him.
Bimbisara's Jail :
King Bimbisara was imprisoned here by his impatient son and heir, Ajatashatru.
The captive king chose this site for his incarceration. For, from this spot,
he could see Lord Buddha climbing up to his moutain retreat atop the Griddhakuta
Hill. There is a clear view of the Japanese Pagoda. The stupa of peace was built
on the top of the hill.
Griddhakuta or Vulture's Peak :
This was the place where the Lord Buddha set in motion his second wheel of Law
and for three months every year during the rainy season,preached many inspiring
sermons to his disciples. The Buddha Sangha of Japan have constructed a massive
modern stupa, the Shanti Stupa (Peace Pagoda), at the top of the hill in commemoration.
A bridle path leads up to the hill but it is much more fun to take the Aerial
Chairlift which operates every day except Thursday. One way ride takes 7.5 minutes
and the view is splendid over the hills of Rajgir.
Pippala Cave :
Above the hot springs on the Vaibhava Hill, is a rectangular stone sculpted
by the forces of nature which appears to have been used as a watch tower. Since
it later became the resort of Pious hermits, it is also called Pippala Cave
and popularly known as "Jarasandh Ki Baithak" after the name of the
king Jarasandh,a contemporary of Lord Krishna described in the epic Mahabharata
Jain Temples :
On hill crests around Rajgir, far in the distances one can see about 26 Jain
temples. They are difficult to approach for the untrained, but make exciting
trekking for those in form.
Hot Springs :
At the foot of the Vaibhava Hill. A staircase leads up to the various temples.
Separate bathing places have been organised for men and women and the water
comes through spouts from Saptdhara, the seven streams, believed to find their
source behind the "Saptaparni Caves", up in the hills. The hottest
of the springs is the Brahmakund with a temperature of 450C.
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