Rajgir is in Patna district of Bihar State of India. It is near Nalanda and Pawapuri. From Bakhtiarpur it is about 21 kilometres by road.At a branch road after Bihar Sharif one goes to Nalanda and then to Rajgir. The other goes in another direction on which some distance to left is Pawapuri(Jain pilgrimage and place of Nirvana of Tirthankara Mahavira). Rajgir is a very ancient place referred to in the mythical period of Ramayana and dating back by remains to a few hundred years B.C.( before Christ). In ancient India it was known by several names, one being Rajgriha. The other ancient names were Vasumati, Barhadrathapura, Kusagrapura, Girivraja.
Rajagriha means the royal abode . It was the capital city of the Magadha empire for many centuries. There are several hills near Rajgriha called the Vaibhara, Ratna, Saila, Sona, Udaya, Chhatha and Vipula. Rajgir is linked with Vasu the fourth son of Brahma(creator) who is considered to have founded the old Girivraja. It is also linked with Brihadratha and Jarasandha. Bimbisara ruled over Magadh from 543-491 B.C, then Ajatasatru (491-459 B.C). The accounts of ancient Rajgir are given by the Chinese travellers and pilgrims Fa-hien and Hiuen Tsang. Buddhaghosha has also given accounts.
Buddha lived in Rajgriha and gave many sermons here. Mahavira the twenty fourth Jain tirthankara also spent a long time here. The twentieth Jain tirthankara Muni Suvrata is supposed to have been born here. Modern day Rajgir is a centre of Jainism and Jain temples. One can see these temples and in the remains of the glorious past one can see the remains of the fortified walls of the fortifications, stone walls of new Rajgir, stupas(remains), caves, monasteries, religious shrines and especially the Maniar Math and the Sonbhandar caves. The other places a student of ancient Indian History, Jainism, Buddhism and archaeology would like to see are the excavations, antiqities, terracottas, cemetery, Karanda tank, Pippala stone house and cave Saptaparni, ancient jain temple with images of Jain tirthankaras e.g. Rishabhadeva and others.
Mahadeva temple, Gridhrakuta antiquities, old road, stone hallold gates, Akhara or Ranbhumi of jarasandha, (Bhima and Jarasandha are supposed to have fought a battle here for more than 28 days), Bimbisara Jail, city walls of Old Rajagriha, Jivaka’s mango garden in Gridhrakuta, Mardakukshi monastery, Bimbisara road, at the base of the Chhathagiri, Gridhrakuta caves, shell inscriptions, brick well with a faded inscription showing date950 AD.cave used by the Muslim saint Makhdum Shah Sharfu’d-Din, Makhdum kundSuraj kund Khakhadu Bathan.
Visit to Rajgir is only recommended for those who can walk about a lot on hills and have a real interest in ancient Indian history and religion (Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism) and who do not mind seeing old remains of mounds, broken walls, crumbling old structures, caves along with visits to modern Jain temples. Security aspect in Bihar is also to be noted and police guidance taken about when to visit and where not to go, when. Especially, travel in remote and lonely places and in night has to be under proper security.