Places to Visit near Patna
There are many places to visit near Patna which are equally interesting and fascinating. Patna being the capital of Bihar is well connected to its nearby places. One can easily to these places of Patna from the city by train and road. These places are of immense historical, archaeological and religious importance. They are:•Rajgir
•Nalanda
•Vaishali
•BodhGaya
•Sonepur
•Kesariya
•Raxaul
•Dungeshwari Cave temples
•Gaya
Rajgir

Some of the important places to visit are:
•There is single-person chairlift to the top of the Ratnagiri hills, about 5km sooth of the town, to visit the 40 m high, Vishwashanti stupa, built by Japanese Buddhists. The stupa. The gilded statues of the Budhha, in all the four phases of life are potrayed in the recesses. The four phases are – birth, enlightenment, preaching and death. There is a Japanese monastery and 26 Jain shrines, all in these hilltops.•Griddhakuta(Vulture’s Peak) is the place where the Buddha preached his disciples.•The LakhmiNarayan temple complex is about 2 km South of the town. The Brahmakund is the hottest springs, with a scalding 45 degrees Centigrade, temperature.•Jarashand ka Akhara:
The ground where Jarasandh and Bhima fought a battle in the times of Mahabharata.
•Ajatshatru Fort:
This fort was built by King Ajatshatru of Magadha in around 6th century B.C.
•Venu Vana:
King Bimbisara built this monastery and offered Venu Vana to Buddha as his residence.
•Shanti Stupa or Griddh Koot:
This stupa situated on tall hill is also known as the Vishwa Shanti Stupa and was built entirely of marble. This stupa is an example of stupendous piece of architecture.
•Bimbisar jail:
The place where King Bimbisara resided after he was imprisoned by his own son.
•Veerayatan:
A Jain temple, which also has a Museum in its premises.
•The Chain of Jain Temples:
There are about 26 Jain Temples and is very difficult to reach. This is an excellent site for trekking and adventure lovers.
How to Reach Rajgir
Patna airport is the closest. One can also travel to Rajgir by Bus, Taxi or Tongas. It also has a railway station and is also well connected by road to Patna.Around Rajgir
Nalanda

The Archaeological Complex is small but fascinating , housing the Nalanda University Seal and a host of sculptures and bronzes, unearthed in Rajgir and Nalanda. There are many Buddha figures and 9th century paintings called Kirtimukha and many sprouted pot.
There is a row of monasteries standing in a row from south to north of the university. These monasteries were built by the Kushans in the same fashion. The most impressive is the Great Stupa , with steps, terraces and monk’s cahmbers. King Ashoka and Harshavardhana pioneered different constructions in Nalanda. The Nalanda Archaeological Museum is a must visit where one can savor the essence of the past. It is located opposite to the entrance of the university remnants.
The Xuan Zang Memorial Hall, is built by the Chinese as a peace Pagoda, as an honour to the famous Chinese traveller, who studied and taught in Nalanda, for some years. A museum and an exhibit dedicated to Xuan Zang was opened.
How to Reach Nalanda
Nalanda is 90 km away from Patna and an overnight journey by bus. One can also travel by train. Rajgir is situated near Nalanda.Vaishali

Vaishali is another significant historical place in Bihar. Recent excavations have brought attention to the archaeological importance of the area. It is believed to be one of the first democratic republics of the world. The ideal season to visit.Vaishali is between October and March. The places of interest located in Patna are: the Ashokan Pillar: A single piece of red sandstone pillar, built by King Ahoka. The top of the pillar has a life size lion figure. There is a small tank beside the pillar called as Ramkund.
•Bawan Powar Temple: This ancient temple has beautiful images of Hindu Gods and was built under the rule of Palas..
•Buddha Stupa: It is believed that some portion of Buddha’s sacred ashes is preserved in this Stupa inside a stone casket.
•Shanti Stupa: This beautiful Stupa was built by the Buddha Vihar Society.
•Kundalpur: This is a sacred place of the followers of Jainism. It is said that the Jain guru Mahavir had spent his initial twenty-two years.
Other tourist spots include:
•Raja Vishal Ka Garh
•Abhiskek Puskaran
•Budha Stupa II
•Choumukhi Mahadeva
•World Peace Pagoda
How to Reach Vaishali
Vaishali is well connected by all means of transport from Patna,BodhgayaBodh Gaya

The places of interest in Bodhgaya are:
•Mahabodhi Temple•Animesh Lochan Chaitya
•Bodhi Tree
•Chankramana
•Japanese Temple(Indosan Nipponji Temple)
•Ratnagarh
•Muchalinda Lake
•Great Statue of the Buddha
•Lotus Tank
•Buddha Kund
•Rajayatana, Brahm Yoni
•Chinese Temple and Monastery
•Burmese Temple
•Buddhist Monastery of Bhutan
•International Buddhist House and Japanese Temple
•Thai Temple and Monastery
•Tibetan Karma Temple and Namgyal Monastery
•Archaeological Museum
Mahabodhi Temple
This is adjoining to the place where Buddha attained enlightenment and is World Heritage listed temple. It was built in the 6th Century A.D.The temple was restored in 1882, as it underwent Muslim invasion. This ornate structure houses a 2m high gilded image of the seated Buddha.
The Bodhi Tree
A sapling of the original Bodhi Tree was carried to Sri Lanka, by Ashoka’s daughter Sanghamitra, before it was cut by Ashoka’s wife. A cutting of the tree was carried back to the place of the original plant.The place
of Budha’s enlightenment is called Vajrasan(Diamond Throne).
Muchalinda Lake
This is a lotus pond surrounded by prayer flags and with a cobra statue rising from the centre. The legend says, that Buddha mediated here on the sixth week of enlightenment and was saved by the snake god of the lake, from a violent storm.
The Indosan Nipponji Temple
There is a free Zazen session, daily .It has a Japanese pagoda roof.Thai Monastery
The Monasteries are designed, respresenting the style of the homeland country. It has a bright wat with shimmering gold leaf and well maintained garden.The Tibetan Karma temple and Namgyal MonasteryIt has large prayer wheels. Other monasteries noteworthy, are Chinese, Burmese, Bhutanese , Vietnamese , Nepalese etc.
Great Buddha Statue
This was unveiled by the Dalai Lama, in 1989. This is surrounded by 10 smaller sculptures of Buddha’s disciples. The statueis hollow, containing 20, 000 bronze Buddhas .The Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation has established three wellfurnished hotels at Gaya - Siddhartha Vihar, Buddha Vihar and Sujata Vihar to boost its tourism sector.
Siddharth Vihar
Bodhgaya, Gaya-824231
Phone: 0631-2200445, 2200127
Sujata Vihar
Bodhgaya, Gaya-824231
Phone: 0631-2200445, 2200127
Buddha Vihar
Bodhgaya, Gaya-82423
Phone: 0631-2200445, 2200127
How to Reach Bodhgaya
Bodhgaya is well connected by road, rail and airways. It is 135 kms away from Patna. The nearest airport is 7 km away at Gaya and railway station is at a distance of 17 kms away at Gaya. Nalanda is at a distance of 101 km and Rajgir 78 km through road.
Rajgir

•Jarashand ka Akhara: The ground where Jarasandh and Bhima fought a battle in the times of Mahabharata.
•Ajatshatru Fort: This fort was built by King Ajatshatru of Magadha in around 6th century B.C. •Venu Vana: King Bimbisara built this monastery and offered Venu Vana to Buddha as his residence. •Shanti Stupa or Griddh Koot: This stupa situated on tall hill is also known as the Vishwa Shanti Stupa and was built rayatan: A Jain temple, which also has a Museum in its premises. •The Chain of Jain Temples: There are about 26 Jain Temples and is very difficult to reach. This is an excellent site for trekking and adventure lovers.
How to Reach Rajgir
Patna airport is the closest. One can also travel to Rajgir by Bus, Taxi or Tongas. It also has a railway station and is also well connected by road to Patna.Sonepur
Kesariya
This is the place where the dying Buddha donated his begging bowl. It is almost the height of 10 storeys, above the earth.This most probably , is one of the 2nd tallest Buddhist stupa in the world, dating back the Pala period. There are nine uniquely shaped terraces , seven of which are exposed. This forms a Buddhist Tantric Mandala diagram, with the circumference of 435 m. There are jeeps which are plying between Kesraiya and Chakia. Alternately , a long day trip from Patna is also available.Raxaul
This is a twin town with Bir Birganj in Nepal. This is a crowded border town.There are early morning buses between Patna and Raxual.Teh Mithila Express runs between raxaul and Kolkata.
Dungeshwari cave Temples
This is 12 km northeast of BodhGaya. This is the place where Buddha meditated for years. There are three shrines , two for the Buddhists and one for the Hindus.There is an autorickshaw trip from BodhGaya.
Gaya

Other sights close to Gaya are :-
Vishnupad temple
This was constructed by Queen Ahalya Bai of Indore, near the Falgu river. It has a 40 cm footprint of Vishnu, imprinted in solid rock. Non-Hindus are not supposed to enter the temple and can have a glance of the temple , from the pink platform, near the entrance. Hindus bathe and light funeral pyres , on the banks of the river.Brahmajuni Hills. There are one thousand steps , which lead to the temple.This is where the Buddha preached his first sermon. This is one km southwest of the Vishnupad temple.