Rajgir, City of five Hills

 

                                                                Rajgir City of 5 Hills

                Once I got a chance to visit Rajgir on some assignment, so I readied my car, cameras and proceeded for the same where I got accommodation at Virayatan in Rajgir which is a very beautiful and Salubrious place situated beneath the mountains making the surrounding and its serenity very calm and quiet.

                It is made for Jains pilgrims who use to come over there from all over world for paying their obeisance and for worshipping. It is very pious place neatly maintained. It has canteen where one can get purely vegetarian meals and can get accommodation after paying the rent which is in affordable range. After finishing my formalities I set out to see the very high quality pictorial view of many incidents of Lord Mahavira life. It is very beautiful place for family to hang out. For going up on the hills people of heavy purse who can't scale over the hills hire palanquins carriers after paying hefty price.. 

                                After taking lunch I retired for the day as I had driven about 250 kms continuousely and was tired. In the evening I moved around the campus seeing it captivating view I become mesmerized and after that I went to the city which is a small town teeming  with people and there were so many eateries joints so I had some as the environment was cool and I was enjoying the every moment over there.  Rajgir is very calm and quiet place surrounded by five hills named Ratnagiri, Vipuloachai, Vaibhavagiri, Rongiri and Udaygiri, so it is called the city of five hills. It is an important Buddhist, Hindu and Jain pilgrimage site. The Rajgir hills also known as five “Rajgriha” hills. It lies in the central regions of the Indian state of Bihar. It was the first seat of power in the ancient kingdom of Magadha. It was the state centre of the power of Mauryan emperors. Historically, Rajgir was also considered one of the places favored by spiritual leaders like Lord Mahavira and Gautam Buddha.

                Rajgir means king of mountains. People all over the world also go to see the Shanti Stupa which a peace pagoda of Japanese, situated about 8 kms away from Rajgir railway station has the ropeway to visit the Shanti Stupa which is on the hill.  Yester year’s legendry film personality Late Devanand also shot his film here in 1969, “Johny Mera Naam” which was a big hit at that time and one of his famous song “O Mere Raja” was shot over there, putting Rajgir on national as well as international map. Rajgir is also primarily famous for hot water spring. In winter People from all over the world come there to have bath in that hot water spring. There are so many places to visit in Rajgir such as 1. Jarasandh Ka Akhara, 2. Naulakha temple, 3. Ancient monuments, 4. Nalanda ruins which is 10 kms away from Rajgir, 5. Jal Mandir Pawapuri which is about 30 kms away. Lot of accommodations is available from budgetary to high end. A three star hotel of Ashoka is also available. Presently an international cricket stadium is coming up. People can also enjoy jungle safari and can walk on the Glass Bridge.

 In this way, after enjoying the trip and   lot of sweet memories etched deep into mind I came back to Ranchi. I wish everybody to go and enjoy every moment over there.

Text and Photos by- Ashok Karan,

Ashokkaran.blogspot.com,

Please like and share. Thanks