Rajgir

Rajgir (ancient Rājagṛha, also called Girivraja) is one of Bihar’s oldest cities and the first capital of the ancient kingdom of Magadha. The Mahabharata associates it with King Jarasandha, and historical tradition links Rajgir with the Haryanka rulers, especially King Bimbisara and his son Ajatashatru (6th–5th century BCE). Encircled by five hills, it functioned as a natural fortress-city. Later, Udayin shifted Magadha’s capital to Pataliputra (modern Patna), yet Rajgir remained a sacred landscape for Buddhism and Jainism. Buddhist tradition remembers the Buddha’s frequent stays and teachings in and around Rajgir, while Jain sources note Mahavira’s visits and rainy-season retreats at Rājagṛha. The region preserves impressive early defences, most famously the Cyclopean Wall, built from large undressed stones stacked without mortar. It stretches over about 40 km across the surrounding hills and is dated to roughly 2,500 years ago. Rajgir is also famed for its natural hot springs. In the modern era, it became a major pilgrimage and heritage destination again: the Vishwa Shanti Stupa (World Peace Pagoda) on Ratnagiri Hill was initiated by Nichidatsu Fujii’s Nipponzan Myohoji order and first completed in 1969. Today its ruins, hill trails, and nearby Nalanda keep Rajgir central to Bihar’s heritage and pilgrimage corridor.