Letstravail
Travel planning content.
Buddhist
buddhist site
Peak season
Nalanda Mahavihara Ruins
Gautama Buddha
Location
Nalanda, Bihar
Darshan
6:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Best time
October, November, December
Difficulty
easy
Est. cost / person
₹7,000
About Nalanda Mahavihara Ruins
Nalanda Mahavihara is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the ruins of one of the greatest universities of the ancient world (5th century BCE to 1200 CE), attended by students from across Asia — China, Korea, Japan, Tibet, Mongolia, Turkey, Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia. At its peak, over 10,000 students and 2,000 teachers resided here studying Buddhism, logic, medicine, mathematics and astronomy. The Chinese monk Xuanzang described Nalanda as having a 9-storey library. Today the vast red-brick ruins covering 14 hectares include monasteries, temples, lecture halls and stupas. A new Nalanda University has been established nearby.
The Nalanda Mahavihara was repeatedly patronised by the Gupta dynasty, Harsha, and the Pala kings. It was destroyed by Bakhtiyar Khilji's forces in 1193 CE. The archaeological complex was listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2016.
Darshan & Aarti
Darshan timings
- · 6:00 AM - 9:00 PM
🚌 How to reach
By Air
Gaya Airport (95 km) / Patna Airport (90 km)
Both have flights from Delhi, Kolkata. Taxi to Nalanda ~2 hrs.
By Rail
Bihar Sharif (13 km) / Rajgir (15 km)
Bihar Sharif on Patna–Gaya mainline. Rajgir narrow gauge from Bakhtiyarpur.
By Road
Via Bihar Sharif on NH-20.
- Bodh Gaya: 95 km · ~2h · NH-83 via Gaya–Bihar Sharif
- Patna: 90 km · ~2h · NH-20 via Bihar Sharif
Last mile: From Bihar Sharif, shared autos and taxis (13 km). Combined Nalanda–Rajgir–Bodh Gaya Buddhist Circuit tour available.
Where to stay
Estimated expense (per person)
| Transport | ₹2,800 |
| Stay | ₹3,000 |
| Meals and local travel | ₹1,200 |
| Total | ₹7,000 |
Estimated for a short 2-day pilgrimage.
Gallery
