Page 226 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - India

224  CENTR AL INDIA

for departed souls, performed
here, would absolve all their
earthly sins. Dominating the
religious life of the city is
the Vishnupad Temple, which
is closed to non-Hindus, but
no such restrictions apply to
the picturesque ghats and
shrines along the river front.
Environs
The Barabar Caves, cut deep into
a granite hill, are 24 km (15 miles)
Hot sulphur springs at Rajgir, surrounded by temples and rest houses north of Gaya, along a bumpy
jeep road. They were the inspira-
8 Rajgir the capital of the Magadha Empire tion for the Marabar Caves in EM
(see p46), ruled by King Bimbisara, Forster’s famous novel, A Passage
Nalanda district. 110 km (68 miles) SE
of Patna. * 33,700. £ @ n Bihar who became a devotee of the to India. Dating to the 3rd century
Tourism, Kund Market, (06112) 25 273. Buddha. The remains of the great BC, these are the earliest examples
dry-stone cyclopean wall he built of rock-cut caves in India. Of the
Surrounded by five holy hills, the can still be seen on Rajgir’s hills. four caves, built for ascetics on
picturesque little town of Rajgir is the orders of the Mauryan
important for Buddhists as well as Environs emperor Ashoka, the two most
Jains. Both Buddha and Mahavira, Pawapuri, 38 km (24 miles) impressive are the Lomas Rishi
founder of Jainism, spent many east of Rajgir, is sacred to Jains Cave and Sudama Cave. They
months meditating and preaching as the place where the founder are remarkable for the lustrous
here. The hills around are dotted of their faith, Mahavira, died in polish on the stone, and for the
with Jain temples, the ruins of 500 BC. A lotus-filled tank, with way in which the caves have
monas teries and meditation caves. the marble Jalmandir Temple been shaped to imitate the
Dominating Rajgir is the large in the middle of it, marks the rounded wood and bamboo
Japanese-built marble and sand- site of his cremation. dwellings, which were common
stone Vishwa Shanti Stupa on at that time. Even the interior
Ratnagiri Hill, with its four gilded 9 Gaya walls have perpen di cular grooves
statues of the Buddha. The 38-m cut into the stone, in imitation of
(125-ft) high stupa was built in Gaya district. 100 km (62 miles) S of bamboo strips. The façade of the
1969 by the Nipponzan Myohoji Patna. * 383,200. £ @ n Bihar Lomas Rishi Cave has fine lattice
Buddhist sect. Visitors can go up State Tourist Office, Railway Station, work carving, and a charming
to the stupa by chairlift. From (0631) 232 155. row of elephants paying homage
here, a path leads to the adjoining to stupas. These caves were used
Griddhakuta Hill (“Vulture’s Peak”), Stretching along the banks of by the Ajivika sect of ascetics,
a site much venerated by the Phalgu river, Gaya along who were contemporaries of
Buddhists. Two rock-cut caves here with Varanasi and Allahabad, is the Jain and Buddhist orders.
were a favourite retreat of the regarded as one of the three It is unsafe to explore this
Buddha, and it was on this hill most sacred sites for performing wild and rugged area without
that he preached two of his most Hindu funeral rites. It is believed reliable guides, recommended
famous sermons. The incident that Vishnu himself sanctified by the Bihar Tourism office at
of the Buddha subduing a wild Gaya, decreeing that prayers Gaya’s railway station.
elephant, a scene often depicted
in Buddhist art, also took place
in Rajgir.
To the west of Griddhakuta
Hill is Vaibhara Hill, at the foot
of which are hot sulphur springs,
crowded with people seeking a
medicinal dip. On top of the hill
are the seven Saptaparni Caves
where the First Buddhist Council
met soon after the Buddha’s
death to record his teachings.
Below them on the hill is the
Pippala Watchtower, a curious
rock and stone structure, with
cells for guards. It dates to the
5th century BC, when Rajgir was Rituals being performed at the Phalgu Ghat in Gaya
For hotels and restaurants in this region see p696 and p709

224-225_EW_India.indd 224 26/04/17 11:44 am
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
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Date 12th July 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm