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What To See
Amaravana or
Jivaka's Mango Garden
Site of the Royal
Physician's dispensary where the Lord Buddha was once brought to have
wound dressed by Jivaka, the royal physician during the reign of
Ajatashatru and Bimbisara.
Venuvana
Site of the monastery
Venuvana vihar built by king Bimbisara for Lord Buddha to reside. This
was the king's first offering to Lord Buddha.
 Ajatashatru's Fort
Built by Ajatashatru (6th
century B.C.), the king of Magadha during the Buddha's time. The 6.5
sq. metre Ajatashatru's Stupa is also believed to have been built by
him.
 Bimbisara's Jail
King Bimbisara was imprisoned
here by his impatient son and heir, Ajatshatru. The captive king chose
this site for his incarceration. For, from this spot, he could see
Lord Buddha climbing up to his mountain retreat atop the Griddhakuta
Hill. There is a clear view of the Japanese Pagoda. The stupa of peace
was built on the top ofthe hill.
 Swarna Bhandar
Two rather strange cave
chambers were hollowed out of a single massive rock. One of the
chambers is believed to have been the guard room, the rear wall has
two straight vertical lines and one horizontal lne cut into the
rock; this `doorway' is supposed to lead to king Bimbisara treasury.
Inscriptions in the Sankhalipi or shell script, etched into the wall
and so far undeciphered, are believed to give the clue to open the
doorway. The treasure, according to folklore, is still intact.
The second chamber bears
a few traces of seated and standing guards etched into the outer wall.
 The Cyclopean Wall
Once 40 km long, it encircled
ancient Rajgir Built of massive undressed stone carefully fitted
together, the wall is one of the few important Pre Mauryan stone
structures ever to have been found. Traces of the wall still subsist,
particularly at the exit of Rajgir to Gaya.
 Griddhakuta or
Vulture's Peak
This was the place where the
Lord Budha set in motion his second wheel of Law and for three months
every year during the rainy season, preached many inspiring sermons to
his disciples. The Budha Sangha of Japan have constructed a massive
modern stupa, the Shanti Stupa (Peace Pagoda), at the top of the hill
in commemoration. A bridle path leads up to the hill but it is much
more fun to take are Aerial Chairlift which operates every day except
Thursday. One way ride takes 7 & 1/2 minutes and the view is
splendid over the hills of Rajgir.
 Jain Temples
On hill crests around Rajgir,
far in the distances one can see about 26 Jain temples. They are
difficult to approach for the untrained, but make exciting trekking
for those in form.
Hot Springs
At the foot of the Vaibhava
Hill. A staircase leads up to the various temples. Separate bathing
places have been organised for men and women and the water comes
through spouts from Saptdhara, the seven streams, believed to find
their source behind the "Saptaparni Caves", up in the hills.
The hottest of the springs is the Brahmakund with a temperature of 45
deg. C.
Pippala Cave
Above the hot springs on the Vaibhava Hill, is a rectangular stone
sculpted by the forces of nature which appears to have been used as a
watch tower. Since later bacame the resort of pious hermits, it is
also called Pippala Cave and popularly known as "Jarasandh Ki
Baithak" after the name of the King Jarasandh,a contemporary of
Lord Krishna described in the epic Mahabharata.
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