Cities in Bihar

Bihar is indeed a land of historic sites that are of great interest to the historians of India. There are five prime cities in Bihar and each of them has its own significance. The top cities include Patna, Bodh Gaya, Rajgir, Vaishali and Nalanda.

Patna being the capital city is undoubtedly the most important city of Bihar. It serves as the gateway to visit the well known Buddhist sites located in Bihar. Jamshedpur and Bokaro are popular mainly for their steel plants. The culture prevalent in all the cities exhibits a strong influence of the Buddhism. Each of the cities speaks of the glorious past of Bihar which remained under the rule of the royals for quite a long period of time.

Travel to Bihar
How to reach Bihar
Tamples in Bihar
Where to stay in Bihar
Top cities in Bihar
What to see Bihar

Patna: Patna is more often recognized as the hub of commercial activities in Bihar. Situated on the banks of the sacred river Ganga, it was earlier known by the name of Patliputra. It is one of the oldest cities of the country that has today become a prominent tourist attraction destination.

Patna is famous all across the country for its majestic buildings that are evocative of the royalty that prevailed over the state. It was made the capital of the kingdom of Magadh in the 3rd century BC. It also gained popularity due to the fact that the great emperor Ashoka seated here.

Rajgir: Rajgir is more popularly known as the "House of the King". People from all over the country flock here to visit the famous temples of Hindus, Jains and Buddhists. Great souls like Lord Buddha and Lord Mahavira lived here for a long span of time. Mentions have been made about this ancient city in the well known Indian epic Mahabharata as well as the texts of the Jains and the Buddhists.

Bodh Gaya: It is one of the most renowned Buddhist pilgrimage sites in India. 25 centuries back, Prince Siddhartha attained enlightenment and became Buddha who was given the status of Lord.

He roamed about everywhere in the lookout for a tranquil place where he could find peace. He finally got peace behind the sacred Bodhi tree and from there emerged the concept of Buddhism. Some 250 years after king Ashoka got enlightened, he laid the foundation for the establishment of the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya.

Nalanda: Nalanda is well known for its international Monastic University that is quite ancient. It is one of the most popular centers of learning that was set up by the Gupta emperors in the 5th century BC.

Vaishali: The city Vaishali has been named after the king Vishal who ruled the city during the period of Ramayana. Vaishali has seen lots of ups and downs and has a real vast history. To conclude, each of the cities of Bihar is truly worth a visit.