Ancient Nalanda University

02/04/2026

Ancient Nalanda University 📚
One of the world's earliest residential universities, established in the 5th century CE by Gupta ruler Kumaragupta I, located in present-day Bihar. It flourished as a major centre of learning under Harshavardhana and later the Pala rulers — notably Dharmapala and Devapala — attracting scholars from China, Korea, Tibet, and Sri Lanka. Its fame is recorded through the accounts of Chinese travellers Xuanzang (7th century) and Yijing/I-Tsing (corrected from "I-Qing" — a common misspelling).
At its peak, it hosted around 10,000 students and 2,000 teachers, with a vast multi-storey library complex called Dharmaganja ("Treasury of Dharma") containing thousands of manuscripts. Subjects taught included Buddhism, Logic, Medicine, Mathematics, and Philosophy.
Nalanda declined following the invasion of Bakhtiyar Khilji around 1193–1197 CE, when the university and its library were destroyed (the exact year is debated among historians; 1193 CE is widely used in UPSC literature, but some place it closer to 1197–1203 CE).
The site was first rediscovered in 1812 by Francis Buchanan-Hamilton, and its identification as ancient Nalanda was confirmed by Alexander Cunningham in 1861.

25/06/2024

Nalanda

19/07/2023

of Ancient Nalanda University
Kumargupta founded Nalanda university in the 5th century A.D. He was also called shakraditya.

Nalanda University was constructed during the rule of Kumar Gupta of the Gupta dynasty. whose identity is uncertain and who might have been either Kumargupta I or Kumar Gupta II and 1197 A.D, supported by patronage from the Hindugupta rulers as well as Buddhist emperors like Harsha and later emperors from the pala empire.

Mahayana monks Asnagna and Vasubandhu said to have found Nalanda in 400-500AD. Nalanda was a huge monastic educational establishment. Primary teaching focused on Mahayana Buddhism yet included other secular subjects as well like Grammar, logic, epistemology, and sciences.

13/07/2023

Artist's depiction of what Nalanda University would have looked like before it's destruction by Islamic invader Bakhtiyar Khilji.

When Khilji burned the scriptures and books, the pile kept burning for straight three months.
Just imagine how much knowledge must have got destroyed.

13/07/2023

Nalanda University:- In Bihar. Nalanda was an important academy for Buddhists. It was located near Rajagriha which is now known as Rajgir and approximately 90 kilometers away from Pataliputra to the southeast today known as Patna, and it was operated from 427 till 1197 CE. Historians considered it as the world’s first university which was residential and one of the best centres to learn about the ancient world. In the Gupta Empire, the University was founded by both non-Buddhists and Buddhists and several Indians.

08/07/2023

Ancient Nalanda University : - Students from around the world studying at the ancient Nalanda university in Bihar, India. This university was a large Buddhist monastery and a leading center of education

10/07/2014

Rajgir Jain Teertha Palace

Rajgir (Rajgrahi) is the famous pilgrimage center for Jains, this is also known as Panch Pahadi. Rajgir is famous as Jain Teerth from ancient times. Twentieth Teerthankar Bhagwan MuniSuvratnath’s four Kalyanka – Garbha, Janma, Tapa and Gyan (Jnan) were celebrated at this sacred place. This place was capital of King Jarasandha (Contemporary to Lord Krishna & Bhagwan Neminath) and capital of the emperor of Magadha King Shrenik (Bimbsar). King Shrenik was the principal disciple of Bhagwan Mahaveer. Rajgrahi had the great strategic importance also at that time.
From the five hills of Rajgrahi – Vipulachala, Ratnagiri, Udaigiri, Arungiri (Swarngiri) and Vaibhavgiri.

A JOURNEY OF A THOUSAND MILES BEGINS WITH A SINGLE STEP...

10/07/2014

Rajgir is famous for its hot water springs, locally known as Brahmakund, a sacred place for Hindus. Another major attraction is the peace pagoda, Vishwa Shanti Stupa, built in 1969, one of the 80 peace pagodas in the world, to spread the message of peace and non-violence. The rope-way that leads to it is another attraction. The Japanese temple is beside the Venu Vana. Venu Vana is an artificial forest, where one can enjoy Eternal peace, and meditate.And famous Makhdoom Kund , Bamboo Grove in Venu Vana. Historically, Rajgir has been a very important place, as capital to many empires. Main tourist attractions are the Bimbisar's Jail, the Ajatshatru's Fort, and the Jarasandh's Akhara.

A JOURNEY OF A THOUSAND MILES BEGINS WITH A SINGLE STEP...