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Bihar Tour
Buddhism has somehow defined tourism in Bihar (the name
Bihar is taken from Vihara - the residential complexes of
Buddhist monks). Places like Nalanda, Rajgir, and Lauriya
Areraj are closely linked with the times and life of Buddha
and his followers. But, Bihar was also a great religious
melting pot. The state was a birthplace of Mahavir - 23rd
tirthankar of Jainism and the religion started here from
Bihar only. Famous Hindu pilgrimage sites like Gaya and
Areraj are as much famous as any other Hindu pilgrimage
site in India. Come to Bihar and experience why India is
considered as the spiritual guru of the world.
Bihar, one of the few states in India where lack of infrastructure
and facilities have restricted tourism to a very restricted
number. Bihar otherwise has a wide variety of sights. The
earliest known habitation in the entire Ganga basin is in
this state. The world's most ancient highway, the nuclei
of the first empire and second civilization of the Indian
subcontinent, the earliest of the cave temples and the world's
largest fair are some of the highlights which Bihar offers
the tourist.
However, early this century for ore and minerals, have
been tamed for industry. The availability of local resources
led the Tata Group to establish one of India's largest iron
and steel factories at Jamshedpur, named after Jamshed ji
Tata, founder of the industrial house of Tata. Energy for
the factories is provided by a series of dams built on the
Damodar River that flows through the Plateau.
Bihar is also very important state for the Buddhist pilgrims
who throng this state to visit sites associated with Lord
Buddha. Bodhgaya, where Buddha attained enlightenment under
a Bodhi Tree, Rajgir where he spent many years meditating,
Nalanda - one of the most ancient Universities where most
distinguished people, religious leaders, astronomers visited
or taught. Patna, earlier known as Patliputra, the capital
of Magadh Kingdom and the birth place of the tenth Sikh
Guru, Govind Singh is another important city.
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