GURU CIRCUIT
TAKHAT SRI HARMANDIR SAHIB
Maharaja Ranjit Singh Ji, the first king of the Sikh Empire, took up the reconstructions of this sacred birthplace of the great Guru in 1839. The present gorgeous edifice of Harmandir Takhat was reconstructed in 1954 as the earthquake of 1934 destroyed some part of it.
GURDWARA PAHILA BARI AKA GURUDWARA GAE GHAT
Popularly known as Gurudwara Gae Ghat, it is dedicated to Guru Nanak Dev Ji, who stayed here during his visit to Patna in the early 1500's
GURDWARA BAL LILA MAINI SANGAT
Situated close to Takhat Sri Harmandir Sahib ji, this shrine stands at the former home of Raja Faateh Chand Maim. His wife or the Rani treated young Gobind Rai as her own son. When Gobind Rai left Patna, the Rani had a Gurdwara built in her home.
GURDWARA SHRI GURU GOBIND SINGH GHAT
This Gurdwara commemorates the arrival of Guru Tegh Bahadur to Patna. After four years of touring Eastern India, the na Guru returned to Patna to join his family.
GURDWARA HANDI SAHIB DANAPUR
The Gurdwara was built in the memory of Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji. An old lady whose name was Mata Jasni cooked khichdi in a handi and for Guru Ji offered it to Satguru Ji. So this place is known as Handi Sahib.
GURDWARA BARI SANGAT SHRI GURU TEGH BAHADUR JI CHAUKI
Gurdwara Bari Sangat Shri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji Chauki - Bhagalpur has two Sikh Sangats where Guru Tegh Bahadur visited it in 1667. An old hand-written copy of Guru Granth Sahib acquired from the former Udasi priest of the Shrine is preserved in Gurudwara Singh Sabha.
SHRI GURU TEGH BAHADUR AITIHASIK GURDWARA, KATIHAR
This historical gurdwara is situated at Lakshmipur Panchayat of Barari Block of Katihar District. It is approx 40km from the district headquarters. Many people visit this village as it is associated with Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib. An ild volume of Guru Granth Sahib is also preserved here.
ALSO VISIT: Gurdwara Chacha Phaggu Mal- Sasaram, Gurdwara Pakki Sangat and Gurdwara Shri Guru Tegh Bhashur Ji- Gaya.
JAIN CIRCUIT
KAMALDAH, PATNA
In the area called Kamaldah (Gulzarbagh, Patna) is a high mound of brick ruins on which two Jain temples stand. There is mausoleum of Jain saint Sthoolhdbhadra and the temple of Sudarshan Swami.
KUND GRAM, MUZAFFARPUR
As per Jain scriptures, Lord Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankar, was born at Kundagrama and his residence was at Vaniyagrama. Both the places were part of or near Vaishali. The modern Village of Bania is at the site of ancient Vaniagrama and Kund Gram is identified with the modern Village of Vasokund, about 2km northeast of the gadh mound.
KUNDALPUR, NALANDA
A beautiful Jaisalmer stone temple is situated close to the ruins of ancient Nalanda University at Kundalpur. This houses statues of Lord Mahavira, Adinath Swami and Gautam Gandharva. This place is believed to be birthplace of Gautam Gandharva, the first disciple of Lord Mahavira. An ancient Jain temple is also here.
JALMANDIR, PAWAPURI
Also known as Apapapuri, the sinless town, is a very sacred Jain pilgrimage center. As per Jainism belief, Lord Mahavira, the greatest propounder of Jainism, attained Nirvana at Pawapuri. Hundreds of thousands of his disciples and devotees took away the ashes after his cremation here. The rush was so great even the soils of the area were taken away and it became a tank. Later on, a beautiful temple known as Jalmandir with white marble was constructed at the center of the tank to commemorate the Lord's Nirvana.
SAMOSARAN
This beautiful temple honors the place where Lord Mahavira sat to teach his disciples. The temple is constructed with white marble, rising by low steps into several concentric terraces with a beehive shaped shrine on the top containing the footprints of Lord Mahavira.
GONAVA JEE, NAWADA
Gonava village is situated at around 1km north of Nawada on Patna-Ranchi road. This is a pilgrimage site for the Jains of both sections. The Digambar Jain temple is just by the side of the main road while the Shwetambar Jain temple is behind it. The temple is famous and known as a place of Nirvana of Lord Mahavira's first disciple Gautam Gandharva.
BISRAM, BHOJPUR
This place in the town called Arrah houses 45 Jain temples. Lord Mahavira, the 24th Jain Tirthankara, took rest here for some time during his wanderings and hence this place is called Bisram (rest).
MANDAR HILLS, BANKA
The Mandar hills is about 700ft high that consists of a huge mass of granite overgrown near the summit with low jungle. The Sakand Purana associates Mandar or Sumeru with the old story of Amrita Manthana or churning of the ocean. Due to this religious association, the hills has assumed considerable sacred significance and is a place of pilgrimage. Two Jain Temples are situated on the summit of the hill where the Jain pilgrims worship Lord Vasupujyanatha.
ALSO EXPLORE: Champanagar, Kundghat, Maniyar Math, Sone Bhandar, Lachhaur and Masadh.
BUDDHIST CIRCUIT
VAISHALI
Vaishali was made immortal by numerous visits of Lord Buddha who came here to give sermons and lectures.He also delivered his last sermon and announced his Parinirvana (attainment of enlightment) on this holy soil. Buddha Stupa is present in this city.
NALANDA
Nalanda came into prominence when Lord Buddha visited here to deliver sermons and speeches. Here is Nalanda Archaeological Museum, which houses Hindu and Buddhist bronze statues, some of which are undamaged. The main attraction in the museum is the two huge terracotta jars of the first century. One can also visit Nava Nalanda Mahavira, which is an institute completely dedicated to study and research in Pali Literature and Buddhism.
BODH GAYA
Bodh Gaya is the place where Prince Siddhartha attained enlightenment under a Bodhi Tree and became Lord Buddha, and gave rise to a new religion called Buddhism. Bodh Gaya is scattered with numerous stupas carved with statues of Lord Buddha in different postures. There are many international monasteries and temples here that belong to different countries. The most beautiful and grand one is the Thai Temple situate on the western side of Mahabhodi Temple.
KESARIA, EAST CHAMPARAN
Kesaria has a lofty brick mound capped by a solid brick tower of considerable size, which is the remains of Buddhist Stupa. Kesariya stupa is believed to be built to honour the place where Lord Buddha has spent last days of his journey, before attaining Nirvana. It is said that Lord Buddha handed over his begging bowl to the Lichhivis, people of Vaishali and requested them to go back to Vaishali after his death. To venerate the end of the life of Lord Buddha the Lichhivis are said to have build this Stupa. While formerly, it was only a mud stupa, it gain its present structure in the Maurya, Sunga and Kushana period.
LAURIA NANDANGARH
Lauria Nandangarh is a rural community in the region of Champaran. An attractive skeleton of an enormous stupa is present here. It is a 26m elevated ancient block reflected to be the stupa where the remains of Lord Buddha were preserved.
RAMAYAN CIRCUIT
JANKI TEMPLE (SITAMARHI)
This more than 100 years old Hindu temple, situated near Sitamarhi, is related to Goddess Sita's life. The temple is believed to be the birth place of Goddess Sita.
PANTH PAKAR (SITAMARHI)
An age old banyan tree still stands here about 8km north east of Sitamarhi. It is said that when Sita left Janakpur in a planquin for Ayodhya after the marriage with Shri Ram, she was given rest for a while under this very Banyan tree.
CHANKI GARH (WEST CHAMPARAN)
It is also known as Janaki Garh. There is a large mound in the eastern part of the village. It is a mass of solid brickwork and is 90 feet high. It was probably originally a fort and the remains of fortification can still be seen. The local tradition asserts that it was a fort of King Janak.
VALMIKI NAGAR (WEST CHAMPARAN)
It is a place where Maharishi Valmiki lived. On the ocassion of Makar Sankranti every year a fair is held on the bank of River Gandak. There is also ancient temples of Nara Devi and Gauri Shankar at Valmiki Nagar.
PHULLAHAR (MADHUBANI)
It is believed that Sita, the daughter of King Janak, used to come here everyday to worship the Goddess. Lord Rama saw her first time at this place.
KAKO (JEHANABAD)
It is believed that Lord Ramchandra's stepmother, Rani Kaikeyi of Ayodhya lived here for some time and the village took its name after her.
RAINCHURA (VAISHALI)
Ram Chandra had stopped at Rainchur for a bath on his way to Janakpur. There are some marks on stone, which are said to be his footprints.
AHIRAULI (BUXUR)
Ahirauli has a temple of Devi Ahilya. According to the legend, Rishi Gautam cursed his wife and she turned into a stone. When Lord Ram's feet touched the stone, Ahilya became alive out of it.
TAR (BHOJPUR)
The village derives its name from Tarka, a demon killed by Lord Rama. There is a old tank in a village that is said to be the wrestling ground of Tarka.
GIDDHESHWAR (JAMUI)
According to local legends, on Ravan's way back to Lanka after abducting Sita, the epic fight between the vulture Jatayu and Ravan took place here on the hill tat is situated about 13km south of Jamui.
ALSO VISIT: Sita Kund (Munger), Pretshila Hills (Gaya), Haleshwarsthan (Sitamarhi), Ahilyasthan (Darbhanga).
SUFI CIRCUIT
MANER SHARIF (MANER, PATNA)
In the early ages, Maner was a centre of learning and it is said that grammarian Panini, and also Bararuchi, live and studied here. Maner contains two well-known Sufi tombs, that of Shah Daulat or Makhdum Daulat, known as Chhoti Dargah and the other that of Sheikh Yahia Maneri or Makhdum Yahia, called the Bari Dargah.
KHANQUAH MUJIBIA (PHULWARI SHARIF, PATNA)
Khankah Muzibia is founded by Hazrat Pir Muzibullah. An old Madrasa here has been the most important center for teaching of Islamic philosophy since its establishment. Sacred hairs of the beard of Paigamber Hazrat Muhammad Saheb are preserved here that attracts throngs of his followers.
DARGAH SHARIF, MITHAN GHAT (PATNA CITY, PATNA)
The beautiful double storied mosque was built by Mughal Prince Azim for his teacher Mulla Mittan. It was the place where the great Sufi Saint Hazrat Makhdum Munnem used to preach his disciples during the 18th century. The ancient mosque still exist and is popularly known as Dargah Sharif.
BIBI KAMAL SAHIBS (KAKO, JEHANABAD)
This village has the tomb of Hazrat Bibi Kamal Sahiba, a great Muslim lady saint. It is said that this lady was the aunt of Hazrat Makhdum Saheb of Bihar Sharif and possessed divine powers.
ALSO VISIT:Khanquah Emadia, Hajipur Karbala, Hasanpura, Baddi Dargah and Chhoti Dargah.
