Bihar Buddhist Circuit Tour – 5 Best Places to Visit

“Train your mind to see something good in everything’’, is a line quoted by Gautam Buddha who came to the land of Bihar to achieve enlightenment with deep meditation and became the great Gautam Buddha. The state of Bihar which gave birth to the devout religion of Buddhism is filled with numerous pilgrimage sites and stupas. Bihar was once ruled by many great empires and hence has a long history connected to its land.

The holy land of Bihar lets tourists explore the ultimate gems of Buddhism located in the heart of the nation. It is the land where travellers discover a wealth of historical information and where civilization and culture have long-standing roots. We welcome visitors who want to engage with this culture from all around the world, the Buddhist Circuit Travel in Bihar Guide will let you know what is to be covered when thinking of Buddhist pilgrimage in Bihar.

These are the top five Buddhist Circuit Destinations in Bihar that you should definitely visit.

Bodhgaya
Nalanda
Rajgir
Vaishali
Patna

Bodhgaya: Witness Where Buddha’s Enlightenment Blossomed

While stepping your foot in the state of Bihar, Bodhgaya will surely catch your attention which lies on the west bank of Phalgu River. The land of Bodhgaya is called by many names such as Uruwela, Sambodhi, and Vajrasana as this is where it is believed that Gautam Buddha travelled to find peace and serenity. The top travel reasons to visit Bodh Gaya are its tranquillity, calmness, and the predominance of Buddhism in the city. The famous and holy Mahakala Caves and Mahabodhi Temple lie in the city which are extremely popular Buddhist places to visit in Bihar among the pilgrims. The Mahabodhi Temple is located in the Bodhgaya region and is listed under the UNESCO World Heritage Site where disciples of Lord Buddha come to gain knowledge and insights from the teachings of Buddha.

Prince Siddharth came to this site and started meditating while sitting under the Bodhi tree located close to the temple to attain enlightenment. As is customary here, all pilgrims often carry out the rites intended to pacify their ancestors. It seeks to pass on their blessings to their offspring and rest their spirit. People from all over the world come to this holy place to offer prayers and seek blessings from Buddha as it is the top Buddhist pilgrimage centre in Bodhgaya, Bihar where the famous Bodhi tree is situated. Devotees believe that Shakyamuni attained enlightenment on a full moon day and since then the festival of Buddha Purnima has come into existence. In addition, there are stupas and other temples honouring the activities that took place here in the happiness that followed the Buddha's enlightenment.

Nalanda: Delve into the Sanctuary of Buddha’s Knowledge

While people are looking to explore Bihar’s Buddhist trail, the city of Nalanda always catches the attention of visitors as it is a great site for learning about the culture and religious values of Buddhism. The word Nalanda means ‘no stopping of the gift of knowledge’ and also serves as a great sightseeing point during Bihar tourism. The region came into existence in the 5th century where Lord Gautam Buddha lived for many years to seek enlightenment and gain knowledge. The city of Nalanda was a thriving metropolis during the period when Buddhism was spreading throughout India and is also home to the Nalanda University which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Nalanda University is said to be one of the famous Buddhist centres in Bihar as people from different parts come to study and witness the enthralling architecture of the mediaeval times. Students from abroad countries such as Korea, Japan, Thailand, and China visit the university to get knowledge about Vedic, ecology, environmental studies, and philosophy teachings alongside Buddhism. Nalanda used to have several monasteries and temples, which can be witnessed by the remains of viharas (monasteries), chaityas (temples), and old classrooms in the area. Nalanda’s magnificent ruins which are filled with tales of history and religious significance as Lord Buddha spent a lot of time here to give his teachings to the students and spread the importance of Buddhism. Although most of the area is in ruins, people still visit to offer their prayers and offerings to the Lord on the top of the ruins as it is a part of the Buddhist circuit tour in Bihar.

Rajgir: Experience the Serenity of Hills Where Buddha Meditated

For a very long time, Rajgir has been the main destination for Buddhist devotees and pilgrims because the town holds great significance on the Buddhist pilgrimage circuit as it is where Lord Buddha spent twelve years of his life. The Rajgir city has a rich history and culture as it is believed to be the ancient city of the Magadha Kingdom and holds great significance among the Buddhist pilgrims in Bihar. According to stories and histories, locals believe that Magadha King Bimbisara presented a forest monastery named Venuvan Monastery to Lord Shakyamuni. The region of Rajgir is located on the Gridhakuta Hill in the Ratnagiri range which is also believed to be the favourite meditation spot of Lord Gautam Buddha hence becoming one of the popular Buddhist destinations in Bihar.

Buddha and Mahavira spent many years atop the Gridhakuta Hills to give some of the great teachings of their lifetime to their followers in the 6th and 5th centuries BC. The hills which are also known as Vulture Peak are the very first places where Lord Buddha served his first sermon before enlightenment. There also lies the Saptaparni Cave at the opposite end of the hill range where the first Buddhist council took place after Buddha’s death to record his teachings and studies from his followers. Here, one can also witness a white stupa, the Viswa Shanti Stupa constructed by the Japanese Buddhist Association housing the golden Buddha statues.

Vaishali: The Place Where Buddha Preached His Last Sermon

The Buddhist tourism in Bihar will remain incomplete if not visited the city of Vaishali in Bihar where Gautam Buddha spent a long time of his lifetime. Buddhist pilgrims come to witness the calmness and beauty of the region as they believe that Buddha delivered his last speech and announced his Nirvana here making it an important Buddhist pilgrimage site in Bihar. After Gautam Buddha’s death, the city of Vaishali held the second Buddhist Council. The place is also renowned among Buddhist pilgrims as Lord Buddha visited the city to receive his special training. Apart from Lord Buddha’s Mahaparinirvana, Vaishali city of Bihar is kept on a pedestal because women were also included in the sangha for the first time in the history of Buddhism.

The small villages of Vaishali have a lot to offer to tourists and devotees as it includes spiritual spots, stupas and temples dedicated to Lord Buddha. The city houses the famous Kutagarasala Vihara, a Buddhist monastery where Lord Gautam Buddha used to visit frequently. While wandering through the city, you can see the Relic Stupa, also called the Ananda Stupa, which houses one of the eight pieces of the Master's Relics, which are artefacts that the Buddha left behind following his cremation. The magnificent and ancient Ashokan Pillar which was constructed by King Ashoka shows his respect and acceptance towards Buddhism.

Patna: Following the Footsteps of Buddha

Patna city takes a great spot in the Buddha tourist circuit in Bihar as the city is the capital of the state and also holds a huge significance among Buddhist pilgrims. Many years back when Lord Buddha lived in the city, the place was known as Pataliputara serving as a base from where the Lord Buddha’s trail of footprints came into existence. The footprints are the reason behind the spread of the Buddha’s teachings and enlightenment among the people. When exploring the state of Bihar to witness the Buddhist destinations, visiting the oldest capital city of Patna is quite important as it takes you centuries ago through its relics and museums.

Before heading towards his Mahaparinirvana destination, Shakyamuni travelled through the city and kept spreading his knowledge among his acolytes. While strolling through the city, tourists get to see the memorial park completely dedicated to Lord Gautam Buddha and is called by the name ‘Buddha Smriti Park’. There’s a museum inside the park premises which showcases the lifetime and teachings of Prince Siddhartha along with holy relics from different parts of the world including Thailand, South Korea, Myanmar, Tibet and Japan. The Pataliputara Karuna Stupa of Patna is a great meditation centre surrounded by lush green Bodhi trees and other medicinal plants.

Buddhism is followed in many parts of India among which Bihar exists as a main pilgrimage centre among pilgrims all around the world. The state of Bihar since a long time back has been a treasure box of spiritual power, education and prosperity that strategically binds the culture of Buddhism along with other religions as seen above. Starting from Bodhgaya to Nalanda and Rajgir to Vaishali, each place has a story of its own to tell and keeps attracting more tourists every year hence flourishing the Buddhist religious tourism in Bihar.

Over time, the Buddhist monasteries and stupas have developed and maintained for several years for devotees. The religion of Buddhism always had a significant impact on all religious centres of the state and has kept its culture intact which led tourists to explore these culturally rich Buddhist pilgrimage places in Bihar. Therefore, visit the state of Bihar to delve into the life of Lord Buddha and learn about the long-lost history of the region.