It's time you visit Bihar, the state is a traveller's wonderland

Bihar is one of the most underrated tourist destinations in India, and deserves all the love and attention. It once served as the seat of many prosperous ancient Indian kingdoms, and bears witness to its glorious past. A visit to the state will offer you an unforgettable experience. If we have you intrigued, here are some places from where you can start your exploring journey.

You will find mention of it in the ancient Hindu epic Mahabharata, as per which, it served as the capital of Magadh, and was ruled by the mighty King Jarasandha. As per scholars, this place must be around 3000 years old, and found its mention in ancient Buddhist and Jain scriptures too. When you visit Rajgir, you will find that the city is divided in two parts, one which is the old fortified city that lies in the valley surrounded by seven hills, and the other new city that was established by Ajatshatru, the son of Bimbisara.

It’s believed to be the world’s oldest residential university, and makes for a prominent site to visit in Bihar. It’s an important site in the state that serves as a reminiscence to the time of the flourishing Pala and Gupta period. If we go by the records, this is also the place where the famous Jain Tirthankara, Mahavira spent 14 monsoon seasons, and Buddha is believed to have delivered lectures near the mango grove in Nalanda. Today, although most parts of Nalanda lie in ruins, it's worth exploring every bit of it.

It’s a prominent Buddhist pilgrimage site in Gaya District of Bihar, famed for the Mahabodhi Temple where, under the Bodhi tree, Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment. Now, it’s one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and attracts lakhs of travellers from far and wide. The place appears to be bustling with pilgrims all through the year, who visit this place to pay their homage in the monasteries here.

Situated in Bhagalpur district of Bihar, this sanctuary is around a 60 km stretch of the Ganges River from Sultanganj to Kahalgaon. The sanctuary’s primary attraction are the Gangetic Dolphins called Soons, which have been declared as endangered. The sanctuary provides a safe abode to a rich diversity of other threatened aquatic wildlife, such as freshwater turtles and more.

Embark on a Sufi Circuit tour when in Bihar for a different experience altogether. Sufism is believed to be the inward dimension of Islam that imbibes its mystical practices, the believers of which are known as Sufis. Some of the prominent places covered in this tour are Maner Sharif, Amjhar Sharif, and Sasram.

Bihar is a place that is replete with stories from the epic Ramayana, and there are several places that are connected to different occasions of Lord Rama and Goddess Sita’s life. Many of the locations mentioned in this epic are reportedly in Bihar, and are considered holy sites for Hindus. If you set off on this tour, you will be visiting temples that are dedicated to the tales of Rama and Sita. Some of the prominent places covered in this tour are Ahilya Asthan, Chanki Garh, and Ram-Janki Temple.

It’s an important archaeological site that once served as the capital city of the Licchavi rulers. Famed for being the birthplace of last Jain Tirthankar Lord Mahavira, another major event this place bore witness to was the last sermon of Buddha in 483 BCE. Visiting this place is like getting transported to another era, as there are places that are reminiscent of the past. It also finds mention in the travel accounts of eminent Chinese travellers, including Hieun Tsang and Fa-hien.