A border-crossing town between India and Nepal. We were going up to Lumbini from India to Nepal but didn’t have an exit visa or a visa for Nepal. Our driver knew someone at the crossing, and we slipped in. We were in Nepal for a week without proper paperwork or a valid visa to return to India. Yikes!!!
Was Glenna sending me a message?
Rajgir Ropeway, Bihar — Riding the single-seat chairlift up Ratnagiri Hill to the Vishwa Shanti Stupa, the Buddhist Peace Pagoda overlooking the ancient city of Rajgir.
On our way up to the Vishwa Shanti Stupa
Pilgrims at Gridhakuta (Vulture's Peak), Rajgir, Bihar — A sacred Buddhist site traditionally associated with the Buddha's meditation and teachings. Pilgrims continue to make offerings of flowers, incense and ceremonial cloth at the ancient hilltop shrine.
Nalinda was an enormous Buddhist monastic university and international center of learning that operated for roughly eight centuries.
The university developed into its great form around the 5th century CE, although archaeological remains at the site go back considerably earlier. It continued as a major center of Buddhist learning until the 13th century
Nalanda was one of the great intellectual centers of the ancient world.
Coming back into India was scary and dangerous as we got tangled up with the local mafia
Yes. I Iove Nepal
The Vishwa Shanti Stupa on Ratnagiri Hill at Rajgir, Bihar.
This cave shrine is at Gridhakuta (Vulture's Peak) in the Rajgir hills. The Buddha spent considerable time here and delivered many important teachings. The location became particularly associated with the Buddha's Mahayana teachings, including the Lotus Sutra.
Before arriving at the archaeological ruins in Nalanda, I had never heard of it. It is truly incredible. I need to spend some time researching this park. This should be a top tourist destination.
UNESCO added the Archaeological Site of Nalanda Mahavihara to the World Heritage List in 2016.
Students studied subjects including: Buddhist philosophy and scriptures, Hindu philosophy and religious thought, Logic and debate, Grammar and linguistics, Medicine, Astronomy, Mathematics, and Metaphysics