Bihar’s top tourism places: Explore Bodh Gaya, Nalanda and more!

Bihar, a state in eastern India, is one of the oldest inhabited regions in the world, with a history spanning over 3,000 years. The state’s rich culture and heritage are evident from the numerous ancient monuments found across Bihar. With many tourist attractions, Bihar draws large numbers of visitors from around the globe every year, who come to experience its long and storied past. Despite its antiquity, Bihar remains an important cultural hub, offering tourists a window into India’s ancient civilizations through its preserved historical sites and landmarks.

 

Bodh Gaya is an important Buddhist pilgrimage site in the Indian state of Bihar. It is famous for the Mahabodhi Temple, which marks the spot where Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment under a Bodhi tree. Bodh Gaya has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Many foreign countries, like Japan and China, have assisted India in developing facilities for Buddhist pilgrims who visit throughout the year. The area used to be called Uruwela and was also known as Sambodhi, Vajrasana or Mahabodhi until the 18th century. Along with Kushinagar, Lumbini and Sarnath, it is considered one of the four most sacred Buddhist pilgrimage destinations.

Patna, located on the southern banks of the Ganges river in Bihar, India, has a long and glorious history as one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. It is an important tourist destination as well as a gateway for Hindu, Sikh, Jain, and Buddhist pilgrims visiting nearby sacred sites.

Originally named Pataliputra, Patna is now a centre of political activity. The older part of the city is called Bankipur, while the newer areas have wide roads and modern buildings. Patna showcases Bihar’s rich cultural heritage through its many monuments like the Patna Sahib Gurudwara, Patna Planetarium, the High Court, Golghar, Secretariat Building, Padri ki Haveli and numerous other attractions.

Despite its ancient roots, Patna maintains an identity as a quintessential modern North Indian city.

Vaishali is a small town in the interior region of Bihar that holds great religious significance for Hindus, Buddhists and Jains. It is believed to be the birthplace of Lord Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankara of Jainism. Vaishali is also considered the world’s first republic, named after King Vishal from the Mahabharata era.

For Buddhists, Vaishali is revered as the place where Lord Buddha delivered his last sermon before attaining Nirvana. To commemorate this event, Emperor Ashoka erected one of his famous pillars here after embracing Buddhism.

Surrounded by mango and banana groves and rice fields, this historical village attracts religious pilgrims and tourists all year round. With its links to the Buddha’s life and as Mahavira’s birthplace, Vaishali is an important sacred site for both Buddhists and Jains respectively.

Muzaffarpur, nicknamed the “Litchi Kingdom”, is a major town situated in north Bihar along the banks of the Burhi Gandak, Bagmati and Lakhandayee rivers. As the administrative headquarters of Muzaffarpur district, it is an important educational and commercial hub.

The city gets its name from a revenue officer called Muzaffar Khan. While the local language is Vajjika, Hindi is used for official purposes. Located 75 km north of Patna, Muzaffarpur is the fourth most populous city in Bihar.

It is particularly famous for its Shahi litchis. The region has cultural influences from Hinduism, Islam and Nepali traditions. The local cuisine combines Bihari and North Indian flavors, with popular dishes like kadhi bari, ghugni, choora, dhuska, litti and pittha.

With its rivers, litchi production, mixed cultural heritage and cuisine, Muzaffarpur represents the diversity of Bihar while serving as one of its major urban centres.

Bhagalpur is a historically significant city located on the southern banks of the Ganges river in Bihar. Known as the “Silk City”, it is the third-largest urban centre in the state.

Bhagalpur serves as a major educational hub as well as an important commercial and political centre. It is home to the Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary, which protects the Gangetic dolphin – India’s national aquatic animal.

With roots steeped in various mythologies, Bhagalpur’s history is a fascinating blend of legends waiting to be explored.

Situated around 250 km east of Patna, the state capital, the commonly spoken languages are Angika and Hindi. As a fast-developing city, Bhagalpur is on course to become one of Bihar’s smart cities.

Combining its silk heritage, mythological past, environmental initiatives and modern growth, Bhagalpur represents the diverse facets of Bihar.