Buddha is thought to have preached the Lotus sutra on this rock outcrop. There are some faint remains of a 1500-year-old stupa, some prayer flags and a small shrine where Buddhist pilgrims come to pray. Get here by walking down from the Vishwa Shanti Stupa and detouring for a 10-minute walk uphill along a processional way built by King Bimbisara 2500 years ago.
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
9.21 MILES
Allow an hour or two for wandering the extensive ruins at Nalanda – they’re peaceful and well maintained with a parklike atmosphere of clipped lawns and…
0.23 MILES
Constructed in 1965, this blazing-white, 40m stupa stands atop Ratnagiri Hill about 5km south of town. Recesses in the stupa feature golden statues of…
2.32 MILES
A 40-minute uphill hike from the back of the Lakshmi Narayan Temple takes you past Jain and Hindu temples to this atmospheric cave and natural rock…
1.93 MILES
Hindu pilgrims visit this temple, about 2km south of town (turn right out of the bus stand and keep walking), to enjoy the health benefits of the hot…
1.89 MILES
Next to the Lakshmi Narayan Temple complex (on your left as you approach the temple), the Jaipur-pink Buddha Jal Vihar is a limpid green pool set in well…
9.2 MILES
The Nalanda archaeological museum is small but has some fascinating finds, including the Nalanda University seal and a host of sculptures and bronzes…
10.01 MILES
Just outside Nalanda you’ll find the striking Nandyavarta Mahal at Kundalpur, believed by the Digambar Jain sect to be the birthplace of Lord Mahavira,…
9.86 MILES
About 2km from the archaeological museum is the huge Xuan Zang Memorial Hall, built by the Chinese in honour of the famous Chinese pilgrim-traveller who…
Nearby attractions
0.23 MILES
Constructed in 1965, this blazing-white, 40m stupa stands atop Ratnagiri Hill about 5km south of town. Recesses in the stupa feature golden statues of…
0.98 MILES
These ruined monastery foundations mark the mango grove given to Buddha by Jeevak Kaumarbhritya (525–450 BC), the court physician of Maghada.
1.2 MILES
These foundations mark the jail in which King Bimbisara was imprisoned until his death by his son Ajatashatru. Bimbisara was the first king to adopt…
1.42 MILES
This oddly shaped ancient circular temple was dedicated to naga (snake spirit) worship.
1.83 MILES
Legend attributes these caves to the treasury of King Bimbisara but actually they are a series of Jain meditation caves, bare except for a couple of stone…
1.89 MILES
Next to the Lakshmi Narayan Temple complex (on your left as you approach the temple), the Jaipur-pink Buddha Jal Vihar is a limpid green pool set in well…
1.93 MILES
Hindu pilgrims visit this temple, about 2km south of town (turn right out of the bus stand and keep walking), to enjoy the health benefits of the hot…
1.99 MILES
This pleasant park just north of the Lakshmi Narayan Temple marks the site of the bamboo grove given to Buddha by King Bimbisara, thus considered by many…