Nalanda University

Nalanda, where ruins of the great ancient university have been excavated, is situated at a distance of 90-km. south east of Patna by road. Nalanda has a very ancient history. Lord Vardhamana Mahavir and Lord Buddha frequently visited it in the 6th century BC. During his sojourns, Lord Buddha found this place prosperous, swelling, teeming with population and containing mango-groves. It is also supposed to be the birthplace of Sariputra, one of the Chief disciples of the Lord Buddha.

The University of Nalanda was founded in the 5th century by the Gupta emperors. There were thousands of students and teachers. Nalanda was a great centre of learning and students from foreign centre of learning and students from foreign countries were also attracted to this university.

Hieun Tsang received here the Indian name Mokshdeva. Nalanda acquired a celebrity spread all over the east as a centre of Buiddhist theology and educational activities. Its importance as a monastic university continued until the end of the 12th century. The ruins of Nalanda University extend over a large area and represent only a part of the extensive extablishment.

Excavations have uncovered nine levels of occupation. Careful excavation of Nalanda has revealed many buddhist stupas, monasteries, hostels, staircases, meditation halls, lecture halls and many other structures, which speak of the splendour and grandeur this place, enjoyed, when the place was a centre of serious study.