The eastern Indian state of
Bihar has an indelible place in Indian history of
the ancient and medieval period. A seat of ancient civilisations, the state
has jealously preserved her heritage for the benefit of upcoming
generations. Undoubtedly, a tour to have a glimpse of the preserved heritage
would be a rewarding experience.
The sacred river Ganga, cutting Bihar from west to east, bestowed Bihar
with such fertility that a host of political and cultural civilisations
flourished at different times in history. The name 'Bihar' is derived from
'Vihara', meaning monastery.
The state has been a major religious centre for Hindus, Buddhists and
Jains. Lord Buddha attained enlightenment at Bodhgaya sitting and meditating
under the Bodhi tree. The Mahabodhi temple of the place is visited by
devotees from all over the world in large numbers. A descendant of the
original Bodhi tree still flourishes in Bodhgaya. Nalanda had the renowned
Buddhist university in the 5th century AD. The ruins of Nalanda are still a
captivating sight. At Vaishali, Lord Mahavira was born and Lord Buddha
delivered his last sermons and announced his Mahaprayan. Rajgir is where
both Lord Mahavira and Lord Buddha spent considerable period of their lives.
Pawapuri, sacred to followers of Jain community is the place where Lord
Mahavira had breathed his last.
The list does not end there. Champaran in north Bihar figures prominently
in the freedom struggle of India. It is from here that Mahatma Gandhi
launched a strong movement against Britishers. Aurangabad in south Bihar is
another place of historical importance. Vikramshila has the ruins of a
Buddhist university and Sasaram has the tomb of Afghan emperor Sher Shah
Suri. Patna, the capital city of Bihar and birth place of tenth Sikh Guru,
Govind Singh also holds a lot of promises for tourists.
The
best buys of Bihar include decorative pieces made out of stone and
bead-jewellery. Local handicraft and handloom products are also very
attractive. Tilcoot-a kind of sweet, is famous all over the state.
Bihar can be reached easily by air, rail and road. Travelling to the
various tourist destinations within Bihar is also a hassle free affair. It
is true that Bihar had failed to develop her infrastructure adequately in
the past hampering the growth of tourism sector. However, things have vastly
improved now. On the north, Bihar shares international boundary with Nepal.
To its east and west are the states of West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh. To the
south of Bihar is the newly carved out state of Jharkhand.
A state of tremendous religious importance, a tour to Bihar shall be a
great spiritual awakening.
Bihar
