With the Ganga River flowing through its middle, Bihar is one of those destinations which are known for their ethnic and cultural values. Be it the diversity of religions or the historical significance, the cities and towns in Bihar collectively make this place worth a visit. While every city of Bihar has something to offer some of the major attractions are Bodh Gaya, Rajgir, Patna, Vaishali, Pawapuri and Nalanda.

The summers can get scorching in Bihar, and this can severely limit outdoor activity. The best time to visit this state is after the monsoon and before summer during the months of October to March. The amount of rainfall received by Bihar is very high mainly because it has the Himalayas to its north, which break the South-westerly monsoon winds and brings down torrential rains.

Litti Chokha in Bihar needs no introduction. Made with wheat and sattu, these are kneaded into small balls made too spicy cooked in ghee. Bihar has the best Balushahi in the world, dry outside and juicy inside, Sattu ka Paratha which is a complete meal in itself and Tisi ki Chutney, the super healthy chutney made of flaxseeds! Bihari food is full of flavours and ingredients that are super healthy.

Paintings from Madhubani School of painting are craze among travelers and buyers in Bihar. Some other popular shopping items in Bihar are stone and bead-jewellery, hand-painted wall hangings, miniatures in paper and leaves, appliqué work on fabric, stone pottery, bamboo and cane work, wooden stools, leather goods.

Hindi is the official languages of the State of Bihar. Maithili and Urdu are other recognized languages of the state. Unrecognized languages of the state are Angika, Bajjika, Dehati, Bhojpuri and Magahi.

UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITES – (AS OF MARCH 2023)

• Archaeological Site of Nalanda Mahavihara
• Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya
• Silk Road Sites in India

1. BODH GAYA

Bodh Gaya is a Buddhist pilgrimage site in Gaya District of Bihar. Famous for the Mahabodhi Temple, It was here under the Bodhi tree that Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment. It is now one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and a lot of foreign countries, including Japan and China, have helped the Indian government in building facilities for the Buddhist pilgrims. The place is bustling with pilgrims all through the year from India and abroad who come to pay their homage in monasteries, temples and remnants of Bodhi Tree.

Places to visit in Bodh Gaya: Mahabodh i Temple, Great Buddha Statue, Bodhi Tree, Thai Monastery

2. GAYA

Gaya, the home of Gautam Buddha and Lord Vishnu, is the location of some of the most remarkable landmarks connected to India’s cultural and religious past. It is one of the oldest cities in the nation, located on the banks of the revered Phalgu River. Rocky hills named Mangla-Gauri, Shringa-Sthan, Ram-Shila, and Brahmayoni, each with significant historical importance, encircle Gaya on three sides. Travellers have frequented these stunning Gaya tourist attractions for countless years. Gaya is the location where Ram, Sita, and Lakshman went to sacrifice pind-daan for their father, Dasharath.

Places to visit in Gaya: Vishnupad Temple, Mangla Gauri Temple, Pretshila Mandir, Dukh Harni Mandir, Brahmayoni Hill Temple, Dungeshwari Cave Temple

3. PATNA

Prospering along the southern banks of river Ganges and set in the backdrop of a glorious historical past, Patna boasts of a dominating presence in history and enjoys the distinction of being one of the oldest cities in the world. In addition to being one of the major and most popular tourist destinations in India, this capital city of Bihar also holds significant religious and spiritual importance as it is a gateway to pilgrimage sites of Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists.

Places to visit in Patna: Gandhi Ghat, Patna Sahib Gurudwara, Golghar, Bihar Museum, Mahatma Gandhi Setu

4. RAJGIR

Set in a green valley and surrounded by rocky hills, Rajgir is a spiritual town with natural serenity amongst the dense forests, mysterious caves and springs. Rajgir houses many religious destinations which are majorly dedicated to either Buddhism or Jainism. Both Lord Buddha and Lord Mahavir have said to spent time here giving it huge spiritual and religious importance. One can visit various ruins, temples and sites here and also spend some time indulging in its refreshing calmness.

Places to visit in Rajgir: Vishwa Shanti Stupa, Venu Van, Vulture’s Peak or Griddhakuta, ropeway, Bimbisara Jail

5. VAISHALI

Another important Buddhist and Jain pilgrim destination, this ancient city has one of Ashoka’s many lion pillars. It is the city where Lord Mahavir was born. Considered as the first republic of the world, Vaishali is believed to have been named after King Vishal, from the time of Mahabharat. It is also the city where Buddha delivered his last sermon. Surrounded by groves of mango and banana and extensive rice field, it is now a part of Trihut division of Bihar. The village is an important religious and historical attraction site and is flocked by tourists year in and year out.

Places to visit in Vaishali: The Ashoka pillar, Vishwa Shanti Stupa, Abhishek pushkarni (coronation tank) and Archeological museums, Buddha’s stupa

6. NALANDA

The most popular Mahavihara of the ancient times, a significant Buddhist seat of academic excellence and a modest pilgrim center, all wrapped in a wisp of spirituality, Nalanda continues to be an equally enriching location in the present. It offers vibrant substance of spirituality, history, culture, architecture, and tourism. This city houses one of the world’s oldest and finest residential universities which itself was an architectural masterpiece.

Places to visit in Nalanda: Nalanda University, Hiuen Tsang Memorial Hall, The Great Stupa, Nalanda Archaeological Museum, Kundalpur, Surya Mandir

7. TOMB OF SHER SHAH SURI

Situated in the town Sasaram in the state of Bihar in India, Tomb of Sher Shah Suri is a stunning mausoleum which has been dedicated to the memory of Emperor Sher Shah Suri. Boasting of Indo- Islamic architecture, the tomb is one of the most popular tourist spots in town and is also known as the ‘Second Taj Mahal of India’ colloquially. Built in red sandstone, the monument is three storeys tall and stands in the centre of a picturesque lake, adding to the ambiance and beauty of it

8. MADHUBANI

An ANCIENT city, Madhubani in Bihar is known for the richness in art and culture that the district strives for. Mentioned in the Ramayana, the city is known for the world popular Madhubani paintings whose origin lie here. The town has multiple temples which are the main attraction points of the town for the locals.

Places to visit in Madhubani: Kapileshwar sthan, Saurath, Nagar fort, Bhawanipur, Uchaitha

9. BHAGALPUR

This historically significant city of Bhagalpur lies on the southern banks of the river Ganges. Bhagalpur, also known as the silk city, it is the 3rd largest city of Bihar. Bhagalpur is well known for being a major educational centre, apart from being the commercial and political centre. The city nurtures the species of National Aquatic Animal of India, the Gangetic Dolphins with the help of the Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary. The city’s history submerges in various Mythologies, and the line between them is blurred than any normal instance, making it a fascination to be explored.

Places to visit in Bhagalpur: Vikramshila, Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary, Mandara Parvat (Hill), Kuppaghat Ashram, Ajgaivinath Temple, Budhanath temple, Champapur Digambar Jain Mandir

10. PAWAPURI

Pawapuri is a holy site for the Jains. It is situated in the Nalanda district of Bihar state in Eastern India. A long time ago, Pawapuri was the twin capital of Mall Mahajanpad. Mahajanpad later became a part of the kingdom of Magadha and Ajatshatru was a devotee of Lord Mahavira. During the rule of Ajatshatru, the king of Pawapuri was known as Hastipal. When in Pawapuri, Mahavira stayed in the Rajikshala of the king. It is considered as a sacred place because Lord Mahavira was buried here in 500 BC. Pawapuri has also been given the name Apapuri meaning sinless town since Lord Mahavira was cremated here.

11. MUNGER

Lying on the River Ganges, the city of Munger was established back in the 4th century CE by the Guptas. In 1763, the Nawab of Bengal Mir Qasim made Munger his capital city and commanded the construction of many important places under his reign. Backed up by glorious history, Munger happens to be the 11th largest city of Bihar state.

The beauty of the city of Munger lies in its ancient factories, historic tombs and monuments, age-old pilgrimage sites, and beautiful thermal springs. The city perfectly retains its rustic old-world charm, which makes it even more alluring.

Places to visit in Munger: Munger Fort, Sitakund and Rishikund, Kastaharani Ghaat, Manpatthar (Sita Charan)

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