Nalanda has a very ancient history. Lord Vardhamana Mahavira and Lord Buddha had frequently visited it in the 6* century BC. It is also supposed to be the birth place of Sariputra, one of the chief disciples of Lord Buddha.

Hieun Tsang, the Chinese traveller of the seventh century, says, that according to tradition the place owned its name to a Naga saint of the same name who resided in a tank here. But he thinks it more probable that Lord Buddha, in one of his previous births as Bodhistawa, became a king with his capital at this place and that his liberality won for him and his capital the name Nalanda or "Charity without intermission".

The third theory about the name of the place is that it derived its name from 'Nalam' plus 'DO'. Nalam means lotus which is a symbol of knowledge and 'DO' means give. The place had many ponds full of lotuses. The place subsequently came to be called Nalanda and later on Nalanda.

The University of Nalanda was founded in the 5th century BC by the Gupta emperors and recorded as the world's earliest university. There were thousands of students and teachers.

The courses of study included scriptures of Buddhism (both mahanayana and Hinayana schools), Vedas, Hetu Vidya (Logic), Shabda Vaidya (grammer), Chikitsa Vaidya (medicine), politics, philosophy etc. The University received royal patronage of the emperor Harshavardhana of Kannauj and also Pala kings.

It was a great centre of learning and students from foreign countries were also attracted to this university. Nalanda acquired a celebrity spread all over the east as a centre of Buddhist theology and educational activities. Its importance as a monastic university continued until the end of the 12th century.

The ruins extend over a large area and represent only a part of the extensive establishment.

How To Reach

Air :
Nearest airport Patna (93 km)

Rail :
The nearest railhead on Delhi-Howrah main line is Bakhityarpur, 38km., through the loop line connects Nalanda.

Road :
Nalanda is connected by road to Patna, Ra)gir, Gaya, Delhi and Calcutta.