Vaishali was one of the earliest republics in the world (6th century BC).It was
here that Buddha preached his last sermon. Vaishali, birthplace of Lord Mahavira
is also Sacred to Jains.
Rajgir,19 kms from Nalanda, was the ancient capital of Magadha Empire. Lord Buddha
often visited the monastery here to meditate and to preach. Rajgir is also a place
sacred to the Jains, Since Lord Mahavira spent many years here.
In Pawapuri, or Apapuri, 38 kilometres from Rajgir and 90 kilometres from Patna,
all sins end for a devout Jain. Lord Mahavira, the final tirthankar and founder
of Jainism, breathed his last at this place.
Near the holy city of Gaya, the Buddha attained enlightenment. The tree that had
sheltered him came to be known as the Bodhi tree and the place Bodhgaya. Today Bodhgaya,
an important place of pilgrimage, has a number of monasteries, some of them established
by Buddhists of Japan, Thailand, Myanmar, Sri Lanka etc.
A great centre of Buddhist learning, Nalanda came into prominence around the 5th
century BC and was a flourishing university town with over ten thousand scholars
and an extensive library.