Tourism in Bihar

Bihar (Hindi:बिहार, Urdu: بہار, IPA2|bɪhaːr, audio|Bihar.ogg|pronunciation) is one of the oldest inhabited places in the world with history of 3000 years. The rich culture and heritage of Bihar is evident from the innumerable ancient monuments that are dotted all over the state in eastern India. Bihar is home of many tourist attractions. Bihar is visited by scores of tourists from all over the World all the year round. [http://www.tourism.gov.in/survey/BIHAR%20TOURISM%20ANNUAL%20STATISTICS%20%20REPORT%20Final.pdf Statics Tourism in Bihar on Indian Government's [http://www.tourism.gov.in tourism website] ] .Around total 6,000,000 (6 million) tourist visits Bihar every year. [http://www.tourism.gov.in/survey/BIHAR%20TOURISM%20ANNUAL%20STATISTICS%20%20REPORT%20Final.pdf Statics Tourism in Bihar on Indian Government's [http://www.tourism.gov.in tourism website] ]

History of Tourism

The documented history of tourism in Bihar region dating back to 300s BC.Greek geographer Megasthenes (, ca. 350 BC - 290 BC) visited the region in reign of Chandragupta Maurya. [ [http://websfor.org/alexander/arrian/book5a.asp v,6] ] His observations were recorded in "Indika" [http://www.mssu.edu/projectsouthasia/history/primarydocs/Foreign_Views/GreekRoman/Megasthenes-Indika.htm Surviving text of "Indika" - book by Megasthenes] . Dionysius was son of Megasthenes, who visited Patliputra in reign of Ashoka the Great. [ [http://perseus.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de/cgi-bin/ptext?lookup=Plin.+Nat.+6.21 Pliny the Elder, "The Natural History", Chap. 21] ] .

In the earliest day, tourism in region was purely based Educational tourism as Bihar was home of some prominent ancient universities like Nalanda University & Vikramashila University [Wriggins, Sally Hovey. "Xuanzang: A Buddhist Pilgrim on the Silk Road". Westview Press, 1996. Revised and updated as "The Silk Road Journey With Xuanzang". Westview Press, 2003. ISBN 0-8133-6599-6.] [http://etext.library.adelaide.edu.au/f/fa-hien/f15l/ A Record of Buddhistic Kingdoms: Being an account by the Chinese Monk Fa-Hien of his travels in India and Ceylon (A.D. 399-414) in search of the Buddhist Books of Discipline] ". Oxford, Clarendon Press. Reprint: New York, Paragon Book Reprint Corp. 1965. ISBN 0-486-21344-7] .

Types of Tourists and Tourism

Archaeological Sites

Excavation

* Kumhrar
* Agam Kuan
* Barabar Caves
* Nalanda
* Vikramsila

Ancient

* Vishnupada Temple
* Mahabodhi Temple
* Sasaram
* Maner Sharif
* Patliputra
* Brahmayoni Hill
* Pretshila Hill
* Ramshila Hill

Forts

* Rohtasgarh Fort
* Rohtasgarh Fort
* Sasaram Fort
* Palamu Fort
* Maner Fort
* Jalalgarh Fort
* "'RajMahal

=Pilgr

Bihar one of the most sacred place of various religions like Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism & Islam, Many tourist travel to Bihar to visit their pilgrimage.

Mahabodhi Temple, a Buddhist shrine and UNESCO World Heritage Site is also situated in Bihar.Mahatma Gandhi Setu, Patna, is one of the longest bridge in the world.

= Hindu Pilgrimages=

* Mahavir Mandir -
* Sitamarhi -
* Madhubani -
* Punausa -
* Buxar -
* West Champaran -
* Munger -
* Jamui -
* Darbhanga -
* Anga -
* Patna -

=Sikh Pilgrimages=

The cpaital of Bihar, Patna is one of the holiest city in Sikhism, as The tenth Guru of the Sikhs Guru Gobind Singh was born here in 1666 and spent his early years before moving to Anandpur. [cite book | last = Johar | first = Surinder Singh | title = Guru Gobind Singh: A Study | publisher = Marwah Publications | date = 1979 | pages = 23 ] Patna was also honoured by visits from Guru Nanak in 1509 as well as Guru Tegh Bahadur in 1666.

* Takht Shri Harmandir Saheb - is , one of the Five Takhts of the Sikhism. The Gurdwara at Patna Sahib is in remembrance of the birth place of Guru Gobind Singh, The tenth Guru of the Sikhs. [cite book | last = Johar | first = Surinder Singh | title = Guru Gobind Singh: A Study | publisher = Marwah Publications | date = 1979 | pages = 23 ]
* Gurdwara Pahila Bara - commonly known as Gurdwara Ghai Ghat, is dedicated to Guru Nanak Dev, who during his visit in to Patna stayed here in 1509 A.D. and later by Guru Tegh Bahadur along with his family visited this place in 1666 A. D. [http://www.gurbaani.com/gurd/gurdawaras6.htm Gurdwara Pahila Bara]
* Gurdwara Gobind Ghat - is where the child Guru Gobind Singh used to play with his playmates on the bank of the Ganges. It is situated on the bank of river Ganga and hardly 200 yards from Takht Shri Harmandir Saheb. It s also known as Gurdwara Kangan Ghat. [http://www.takhatpatnasahib.com/Gurdwara-Kangan-Ghat.aspx Gurdwara Gobind Ghat]
* Gurdwara Guru ka Bagh -This Gurdwara is situated 2 miles far from the Takht Shri Harmandir Saheb|birth place of Guru Gobind Singh. [http://www.takhatpatnasahib.com/Gurdwara-Guru-Ka-Bagh.aspx Gurdwara Guru ka Bagh]
* Gurdwara Bal Leela - This place is just few meters away from Takhat Patna Sahib. Guru ji were playing with other children during his childhood.Gurdwara Bal Leela is also known as Maini Sangat. [http://www.takhatpatnasahib.com/Gurdwara-Bal-Leela.aspx Gurdwara Bal Leela]
* Gurdwara Handi Sahib - This Gurdwara was built in the memory of Guru Teg Bahadur. As Guru Teg Bahadur with Mata Gujri and Bala Preetam stayed here in 1728 [http://www.takhatpatnasahib.com/Gurdwara-Haandi-Saheb.aspx Gurdwara Handi Sahib]
* "'Gurdwara Taksali Sangat
* "'Gurdwara Chacha Phaggu Mal
* "'Gurdwara Pakki Sangat
* "'Gurdwara Bari Sangat Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji Chauki

Budhism Pilgrimages

* Mahabodhi Temple
* Bodhi Tree
* Bodh Gaya
* Gaya
* Vaishali
* "'Pawapuri
* Nalanda
* Rajgir
* Kesariya
* Vikramshila
* Areraj
* "'Patliputra

= Islamic Pilgrimages=

* Sasaram
* Maner Sharif
* Bihar Sharif
* Phulwari Sharif

Jain Pilgrimages

* Rajgir
* Pawapuri
* Patliputra
* Arrah
* Vikramasila

Other Pilgrimages

* Padari ki haveli

Buildings & Structures

* Golghar
* Patna Museum
* Kargil Chowk
* Mahatma Gandhi Setu

Museums

history Museums

* Patna Museum - is the state museum of Bihar. It was built by the British during the British Raj in the year 1917 to house the historical artefacts found in the vicinity of Patna [ [http://www.thebharat.com/tourism/museum/patna.html The State Museum - [Patna Museum] ] .
* Nalanda Museum
* Bodh Gaya Museum
* Vaishali Museum
* Vikramshila Museum

Science Museums

*Patna Planetarium - is one of the largest planetariums in Asia. [http://patna.bih.nic.in/html/planetarium.htm Patna Planetarium] The Patna Planetarium was dedicated to the Nation and opened for the public from April 1, 1993 [http://dst.bih.nic.in/Planetarium.htm Patna Planetarium] .
* Srikrishna Science Centre-This institution forms an unit of the National Council of Science Museums, an autonoums body under the ministry of Culture. It is located at south-western corner of the Gandhi Maidan. [ [http://ncsm.gov.in/exibits_5.aspx Exhibits / Facilities at Srikrishna Science Centre ]

Eco Center

* Sanjay Gandhi Jaivik Udyan - is classified as one of the 16 large zoos in the country and is also known as Sanjay Gandhi Botanical and Zoological Garden, Patna or Patna Zoo.This is situated near Bailey Road in [Patna] . [http://forest.bih.nic.in/SGBPark.htm Patna Sanjay Gandhi Jaivik Udyan]
*Kakolat
*Bhimbandh

Fairs & Festivals

* Sonepur Fair
*Rajgir Mahotsav

Connectivity & Access

Bihar is also an important transit point of Bihar for the tourists dropping in from the other states of India. Bihar is well-connected by air, rail and road transport.
* By Air
Bihar has its own airport known as Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Airport or Airport Bihar. It is an national airport and it is connected to all major city of India via daily flights.
Gaya Airport is the only international airport in Bihar and Jharkhand which 96 KM from Bihar. It is an international airport which is connected to Colombo, Sri Lanka through two airline operators- Bangkok, Thailand, Singapore, and Bhutan.

* By Rail
Bihar is strategically located in the main line of the East Central Railway and therefore connected with important cities of India and most cities within Bihar.

* By Road

ee also

* Tourism in Patna
* Tourism in India

Footnotes

External Links

* [http://bstdc.bih.nic.in/ Official website Of Bihar Tourism]

* [http://discoverbihar.bih.nic.in/ Official website Of Discover Bihar] ]