Explore the Timeless Attractions of
Nalanda and the Buddhist Heritage Circuit
From ancient university ruins to sacred pilgrimage sites — discover 1,600 years of history, spirituality, and wonder.
UNESCONalanda University Ruins
The World's First Residential University
Founded in the 5th century CE, Nalanda was the greatest center of Buddhist learning in the ancient world. At its peak, it housed over 10,000 students and 2,000 teachers from across Asia. The UNESCO World Heritage Site today reveals a sprawling complex of monasteries, temples, and shrines that tell the story of one of humanity's greatest intellectual achievements.
UNESCOSariputra Stupa
Birthplace of Buddha's Chief Disciple
This magnificent stupa marks the birthplace and final resting place of Sariputra, one of the two chief disciples of Gautama Buddha. Rising majestically within the Nalanda ruins complex, it represents the pinnacle of ancient Buddhist architectural achievement.
MuseumHiuen Tsang Memorial Hall
Honoring the Great Chinese Pilgrim
Built by the Government of India in collaboration with China, this elegant memorial honors Xuanzang (Hiuen Tsang), the Chinese Buddhist monk who studied at Nalanda in the 7th century CE and whose detailed travelogue 'Great Tang Records on the Western Regions' remains our primary source of information about ancient India.
MuseumNalanda Archaeological Museum
Treasures of the Ancient University
Housing over 13,000 artifacts excavated from the Nalanda ruins, this museum is one of the finest in India. Its collection spans sculptures, bronzes, terracotta figurines, coins, and inscriptions dating from the Gupta period to the Pala dynasty.
LearningNav Nalanda Mahavihara
Reviving the Ancient Seat of Learning
Established in 1951 to revive the traditions of the ancient Nalanda University, this post-graduate institute offers courses in Pali, Buddhist studies, Tibetan, and comparative religion. The campus features a magnificent stupa replica and a beautiful meditation garden.
PilgrimageKundalpur Digambar Jain Temple
Birthplace of Lord Mahavira
Kundalpur is believed by Digambar Jains to be the birthplace of Lord Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankara of Jainism. The temple complex is a major Jain pilgrimage site featuring a grand marble temple and several smaller shrines.
PilgrimagePawapuri Jal Mandir
Where Lord Mahavira Attained Nirvana
Set in the middle of a serene lotus-filled lake, the Jal Mandir at Pawapuri is one of the holiest pilgrimage sites in Jainism. Lord Mahavira attained Nirvana (Moksha) here, and his body was cremated on this very spot.
NearbyRajgir
The Ancient Royal Capital
Once the capital of the powerful Magadha Empire, Rajgir is one of the most significant sites in both Buddhist and Jain traditions. It was here that the Buddha spent many rainy seasons, and the First Buddhist Council was held after his Mahaparinirvana.
NearbyBodhgaya
Where the Buddha Attained Enlightenment
The holiest site in Buddhism, Bodhgaya is where Siddhartha Gautama attained enlightenment under the Bodhi Tree. The Mahabodhi Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, stands at the exact spot of this momentous event and draws millions of pilgrims from around the world.
1,600 Years of History
5th Century BCE
Magadha Empire flourishes; region gains spiritual prominence
427 CE
Nalanda University founded during the Gupta Empire under Emperor Kumaragupta I
7th Century CE
Chinese monk Xuanzang (Hiuen Tsang) studies here; records the university at its peak
8th–12th Century
Pala dynasty patronage; university reaches its greatest extent with 10,000 students
1193 CE
Bakhtiyar Khilji destroys Nalanda; the great library burns for months
2016 CE
UNESCO World Heritage Site designation; Nalanda International University re-established