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For Buddhism in India, Bihar is where it all started. Though it is considered to be one of the poorest states in the country, it is however one of the richest when it comes to cultural heritage. For many, it is known as the place where the great Prince Siddharta Gautama attained enlightenment - becoming the Buddha and spawning a new religion. What is not very much known, though, is that it once was the kingdom of the powerful Maurya during the ancient times, generally considered to be India's first great empire. As such, Bihar is embellished with historical sites that draw thousands of devotees and tourists alike.
The highlight of any visit to Bihar would be Bodhgaya, the place where Gautama reached enlightenment under the legendary bodhi tree. Deemed as the most important Buddhist pilgrimage site on the planet, it is also home to temples, monuments, and international monasteries. Probably its most visited attraction is the famed Mahabodhi Temple ("Great Awakening Temple") built by the Emperor Asoka in around 250 BC. The name is extremely apt, as it is built on the exact point where the Buddha meditated. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it towers 55 meters over the landscape, and stands as one of the oldest surviving brick structures in the country. It also contains the so-called Vajrasana, or "Diamond Throne," which marks the spot where the Buddha had sat under the bodhi tree.
Another attraction is the capital of Bihar itself, Patna. As the former capital of the Maurya and Gupta Empires, its long history had made it a silent witness to the rise and fall of many kingdoms. Tourists to the city can't go wrong heading to the Patna Museum, which boasts a collection of more than 50,000 artifacts that tell stories from India's ancient history. Not to mention that it possesses the hallowed Holy Relic Casket, which actually contains the Lord Buddha's ashes. There are also the ruins of the ancient city, which is now known as Kumhrar. One can still see traces of the Assembly Hall of 80 Pillars, which brandishes the single remaining stone-carved pillar that shines like glass.
Rajgir is also a worthy attraction. The former capital of the ancient Magadha Empire, it is believed to date back more than 3,000 years ago. Literally translated, it means "the abode of kings," and features historical sites related to the Buddhist, Hindi, and Jain faiths. One of these is the Gridhakuta, or "Vulture's Peak" where the Buddha is said to have once meditated. There, too, are the impressive Cyclopean Walls that stretch four kilometers long and four meters thick, believed to be no less than 2,500 years old.
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