A travel destination is one which unbinds your current state of mind from all the complexities of life, one absorbs the atmosphere of the place in an exquisite manner. Bihar, taken from the Sanskrit and Pali word ‘vihara’ meaning ‘abode or resting house’, is the perfect place for all those wanderlusts who are searching for their next getaway trip.
Bihar as a tourist destination, is a concoction of different aspects of tourism. From being a site with historical links, and has religious as well as spiritual affinity to being a nature’s seat, thus, making this as the apt spot for vacation. The top destinations generally take away all the limelight, but an explorer even needs to know about the unexplored or lesser-talked about spots as well.
Lesser-known places in Bihar-
1. Tutla Bhawani Waterfall– When it comes to viewing geological formations in Bihar, Kakolat waterfall (Nawada district) gets their due share of attention but apart from that, Tutla Bhawani waterfall is no less than a nature’s wonder.
The Tutla Bhawani waterfall is 20 kms away from Dehri-On-Sone in Rohtas district, Bihar. If you travel by car from Patna (capital of Bihar), then it may take almost four hours and thirty minutes to reach the desired place.
The place is surrounded by mountains with the river Kachuar flowing from the middle of the valley. Moreover, there is a temple by the same name which one can also visit. Thus, this place is a perfect synergy of nature and religion that can soothe one’s clogged mind.
2. Lauriya Nandangarh Stupa– This place is a must visit, especially for all the history lovers. The contribution of Chakravartin Ashoka is not hidden by anyone. He, embracing the Buddhist religion and then spreading the principles of Buddhism and Dhamma (his own formulated list of acceptable behavior) is a known fact. To promote these ideas, he inscribed the messages on rocks and the Lauriya Nandangarh Pillar holds this testimony. A stupa is also built at the same place to keep intact the relics of Lord Buddha for the posterity to see. This site is almost 28 kms away from Bettiah district of Bihar.
3. Barabar Hills– The Barabar Hills has a special connection with the Ajivika sect (whose founder was Goshala Maskariputra). This site was constructed by Emperor Ashoka for the followers of Ajivika sect. It is situated near Makhdumpur (Jehanabad district), around 40 kilometers from Bodh Gaya, Bihar.
The Barabar hills have a sight to behold. They are a group of four caves which are situated on the Barabar Hills. There are three more caves on nearby Nagarjuni Hills. These seven rock-cut caves are together known as Barabar caves. The place holds an immense significance due to being the oldest rock-cut architecture in the world. It was built around the 3rd century BC.
The interior of the hills has intricate designs and inscriptions which one can witness after visiting the place. Apart from this, for emotional calmness, one can enter any of the hills and sit in a meditating position for self-introspection.
4. Hiuen Tsang monastery– The breath-taking view of this place along with peace and tranquility spread all around the premises, makes this as the perfect place for all those backpackers who want some self-indulgence time away from all the hustle and bustle of the city life. This place was commissioned in 1960 which was finally completed in 1984. The monastery is named after a Chinese scholar and pilgrim, Huien Tsang who visited India during the reign of King Harshvardhan from 627 CE to 643 CE.
His travelogues are his observations of the prevailing social conditions during his visit to India. His journey as a Buddhist monk and a student in Nalanda University (to study about Buddhism), is what is reflected while touring the monastery. The monastery chronicles his journey in a magnificent way.
5. Jalmandir– Bihar is the cradle for two of the most important religions in the world- Buddhism and Jainism. The Jalmandir or Water Temple is an ode to the followers of the Jain religion. The temple is surrounded by water from three sides and, hence, the name. This water temple is made up of white marble, thus, giving a pristine appearance to it.
The temple is situated in Pawapuri (Nalanda district), where Lord Mahavira attained nirvana (salvation). Lord Mahavira was the 24th tirthankara (preacher of Jain religion), and his Charan Paduka or foot impression can be seen inside the premises of the temple. Thus, this place holds a strong religious connotation for all Jain followers but anyone can explore this site to know further about the religion. One can take almost two and half hour’s car from Patna to reach Pawapuri.
A place has many told and untold stories related to it, so goes with the state of Bihar. While the known stories grab the attention, the unknown stories are needed to be brought to the limelight with some extra effort. So, the aforementioned tourist places were just an effort to know a little bit more about “Blissful Bihar”.
Bihar is not only known for its fascinating places but also for its Bihari cuisine which includes some lip-smacking dishes. Moreover, one can also purchase traditional handicrafts to decorate one’s living spaces or gift it as a souvenir. Whatever may be the reason to choose Bihar as the next travel destination but at the end of the trip, one will leave this place with eternal bliss.
