Rajgir hills

View of Rajgir hills from Jarasandha's Akhara

The Rajgir hills,also known as "Rajhara" hills, lie near the city of Rajgir in central regions of the Indian state of Bihar.It is surrounded by five hills named Ratnagiri, Vipalachal, Vaibhagiri, Songiri and Udaygiri. It is an important Buddhist, Hindu and Jain pilgrimage site.^[1]

The hills consist of two parallel ridges extending around 65 km. At their highest point, the hills rise to an altitude of 388 meters, but most of the hills are around 300 meters high. Between these two ridges lie a number of places of historical importance, dating from the period of the Mahabharata, Gautam Buddha, Mahavira, Mauryas and the Guptas. The hills are sacred in both Buddhism and Jainism because of their association with the religions' respective founders, the historical Gautama Buddha and Mahavira. Therefore, the hills have often been the destination of religious pilgrimage for Jains and Hindus alike.

Coordinates: 25°01′N 85°28′E / 25.017°N 85.467°E

Gijjha-kuta Hill (Vulture's peak) from above.

Because the spot was protected by two parallel ridges, Ajatashatru made it the capital of the north Indian empire Magadha in the 5th century BCE, naming it Rajgriha. Ajatsatru occupied the throne by imprisoning his father, the king Bimbisara. Bimbisara, who had been converted to Buddhism by the Buddha himself, requested that his prison be constructed near a small hillock so that he could watch the Buddha passing by in the morning and evening.

Shanti Stupa (Peace Pagoda) at Rajgir.

In modern day, visitors can follow a ropeway to the top of the hill to visit the Buddhist Shrine, Peace Pagoda, near where the Buddha is believed to have preached the Lotus Sutra. On the descent, viewers can see the Gridhra-kuta Hill, where Buddha was said to have rested after the day's preaching.^[2]

About four kilometers from Peace Pagoda is the Brahma Kund^[3] (one of several sacred sites throughout India of the same name). Here, hot water from seven different springs (together called Saptarshi, or seven sages) merge. The Brahma Kund is associated with healing power, likely due to the sulfur in the hot springs.there are also hot spring like surya kund which is famous for repair skin disease.there is also akhara of king jarasandh.It is also having so many temple of jain and budha like naulakha mandir,lal mandir,virayatan, etc.

References

1. "Rajgir Hills". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2014-09-10.
2. "Rajgir". Bihar State Tourism IDevelopment Corporation. Retrieved 2014-09-10.
3. "Google Maps". Google Maps. Retrieved 2016-11-16.