Nalanda is a historical place in central Bihar, India, 90km south-east of the state capital of Patna. It is not inhabited now, and the nearest habitation is a village called Badgaon. It is important to the history of India, and that of Buddhism.

The famous Nalanda University had been established at the site by the 5th century BC, and the Buddha is thought to have visited it. Later it became an important Buddhist centre of learning, at its peak accommodating up to 10,000 students. Among the famous teachers there was Nagarjuna. The Chinese pilgrim Hsuan Tsang (Xuanzang) left detailed accounts of the university in the 7th century. In 1193, it was destroyed by Turkish Muslim invaders; this event is seen as the final milestone in the decline and near extinction of Buddhism in India.

A vast amount of what is considered to be Tibetan Buddhism actually stems from the late (9th-12th century) Nalanda teachers and traditions.

A number of ruined structures survive. Nearby is the Surya Mandir, a Hindu temple. The known and excavated ruins extend over an area of about 15 hectares.

The Nalanda museum contains a number of manuscripts, and shows many examples of the items that have been excavated.

In 1951 a modern centre for Buddhist studies was founded nearby, the Nav Nalanda Vihar.

Mahavir Jain - Mahavira attained Moksha at Pavapuri. Pavapuri is located in Nalanda.

See also

• Takshasila
• Benares

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Nalanda is also the name of the modern administrative district of Bihar in which the ancient university ruins are found.

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Nalanda is also the name of two modern-day colleges, one in Sri Lanka and one in Toronto, Ontario Canada, and a monastery in France.

External links

• Nalanda College, Sri Lanka (http://www.infolanka.com/nalanda/)
• Nalanda College, Toronto, Canada (http://www.nalandacollege.ca)
• Nalanda Monastery, Lavaur, France (http://www.nalanda-monastery.org/)

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