1. U see the grand Amphitheatre. Has a capacity of app. 2000 spectators & is situated in center of Kamal Sagar–the Central water body. It has a green room & dais at its center. NU has a 455 acre campus, of which app 100 acres are water bodies. It is about 2.5 kms from Rajgir. Land was gifted by Bihar government. Campus has over 200 buildings, a build-up area of 14 lakhs sq feet & 300 acres of landscape etc.
2. Main Gate inside complex. The large, curved volume creates a sense of pause and calm as felt in the temple entrances. It has exposed brick cladding. Brick and concrete are used in a composite manner. Work on ground commenced in mid-2017. It took 4 years to come up. It is a net-zero green campus.
3. Pathway to campus. There is a 12.5 kms internal road network. Design encourages people to walk or cycle thereby reducing carbon footprint.
4. The Academic Spine is in the North South direction. It houses around 50 classrooms (25-seater to 100-seater), meeting/ discussion rooms, Faculty Offices, Laboratories, a 100-seater Mini-Auditorium, Office of the Controller of Examinations, and International Relations, etc. In the Southern side the Sushma Swaraj Auditorium (300-seater) is situated followed by two guest houses.
5. The Campus Amenities are spread over 400 meters in length spanning in the East West direction of the Campus amidst the central waterbody. It comprises the Arcade- a covered walkway consisting of 19 half bottle like structures spanning both sides of the Amphitheatre. These house the utility features of the Campus like, coffee shops, copier stations, discussion rooms, stationery shops, etc
6. Aerial view of Administrative Block. Campus has a total of 14 waterbodies comprising of 9 Ahars and Kamal Sagar in 5 quadrants. These can preserve 18 months of buffer stock for the entire Campus demand for a 7,000 population. The indigenous Ahar-Pyne water networking system is the key strategy adopted for the water management system of the Campus, where the ‘Ahars’ (collection ponds) also acts as individual ground water recharge modules and exemplifies rain-water harvesting. All the water bodies are interconnected through Pynes (narrow water streams/channels) or through underground road cross-overs.
7. University Community at a Yoga session. Like the rest of the Campus, the admin block is also environment resilient & reduces carbon footprint-be it in the form of usage of construction material/methodology adopted or the strategic energy/water consumption techniques. Published by Kaivalyadham, book on Yoga Asanas in PDF. https://www.esamskriti.com/e/Yoga/Asanas-ad-Pranayama/Photos-of-Yoga-Asanas-1.aspx
8. Buddhist studies classroom. Campus has a 6.5 MW Solar PV captive power plant, 1.2 MW Biogas plant. Campus has Desiccant Evaporative (DEVAP) technology for cooling/heating of the buildings, Solar Integrated thermal storage technology for HVAC System. Read Buddha and his message by Swami Vivekananda https://www.esamskriti.com/e/Spirituality/Buddha-Vakhya/Buddha-and-His-Message-1.aspx
9. Auditorium has capacity of app 300. It is named after former external affairs minister Smt Sushma Swaraj. Buildings make Use of Compressed Stabilized Earth Blocks instead of common burnt clay bricks, thick cavity walls to increase thermal resistance, climate appropriate landscape design to reduce potable water demand, Decentralized Water Treatment systems, Cooling & cleaning of air through use of selected native plantsetc.
10. Conference inside auditorium. It is housed inside four Chatris and enveloped by 16 Gopurams. The Auditorium is a fusion of Classic Architecture with all new modern facilities. Captions and pictures provided for by Nalanda University. Read Characteristics of Indian Philosophy https://www.esamskriti.com/e/Spirituality/Philosophy/Characteristics-of-Indian-philosophy-1.aspx
11. Meditation Hall. The students from 30 countries live together in campus which substantiates its cultural, international, spiritual confluence and the multi-cultural fabric. The University also has a Health Care centre. Published in Hinduism Today (all about meditation) https://www.esamskriti.com/e/Yoga/Meditation/All-About-Meditation-1.aspx
12. Classroom. Liked design of table. Significant efforts made to attract students from abroad. To know details of Courses Offered in 2021-22 https://nalandauniv.edu.in/admissions/programmes-offered/
13. Administrative Block. Hear talks on Maths in Metrical Form by IIT Prof https://www.esamskriti.com/e/Spirituality/Education/Talks-on-Maths-in-metrical-form--1.aspx
14. Travel is a form of education. We now present pictures of places in and around Rajgir. Great Buddha Statue Bodh Gaya is 80 feet high. It was made by the Japanese in 1989. To see album https://www.esamskriti.com/a/Bihar/Great-Buddha-Statue.aspx
15. Nalanda University ruins. It flourished between 5-12th century, housed about 10,000 students and 2,000 teachers. A direct disciple of Buddha, Sariputra, was born and achieved Nirvana here. It was founded by Kumaragupta I (415 to 455 a.d.) of the Gupta dynasty.
16. Main Temple and Stupa. In the 18 branches of learning were included the 4 Vedas, the 6 Vedangas, Purana, Nyaya, Mimamsa, Dharmasastra, Dhanurveda, Gandharva-Veda and Arthasastra. Hiuen Tsang observed that children, after finishing a work called `The 12 Chapters` were introduced in the 7th year to a group of 5 sciences i.e. science of grammar, arts and crafts, medicine, reasoning & the Internal.
17. This is Monastery no 5. Monks spent most of their time studying and in debates. Decline started in the 12th century post invasion by Khilji. Hiuen Tsang Memorial is close to Nalanda ruins. To see full album on Nalanda https://www.esamskriti.com/a/Bihar/Nalanda-University.aspx
18. These were excavated during the 3/4th century B.C. by saint Vairadeva for Jain sages. Also see Ruins of Ajastshatru Fort that was built by Ajatshatru (6th century B.C.), the king of Magadha during the Buddha`s time” & Chariot Wheel said to belong to the Mahabharata period.
19. Caves external view. There is believed to be King Bimbisara’s Treasury inside cave. The guide told me that the British tried very hard to blast that stone wall but were unsuccessful. Guide said that there is a secret mantra that needs to be said - only then would the stone move.
20. A few minutes before the caves is Maniyar Math. It is dedicated to the worship of the presiding deity of Rajgir - Mani Nag. This place is where the ancient shrine of Mani-naga once stood here, also referred to in the Mahabharata.
21. Maniyar Math. U walk up the steps and then walk down steps into well area. The well is above the tin sheet that covers it now.
22. Rajgir is famous for Vishwa Shanti Stupa and this ropeway. Drive to Shanti Stupa base is lovely, like through a mini forests. This pic is from base of hill to the top. Topada in the Mahabharata refers to the hot water springs of Rajgir. Guru Nanak is said to have visited Rajgir (he visited many prominent places of pilgrimage for e.g. Pushkar, Puri, Omkareshwar, Ayodhya, Burhanpur).
23. “At the foot of Vaibhava Hill, a staircase leads up to the various temples. Water comes through spouts from Saptdhara, the seven streams, believed to find their source behind the "Saptarni Caves", up in the hills.” To see album on Rajgir https://www.esamskriti.com/a/Bihar/Rajgir.aspx
24. Bodh Gaya Mandir. To see one of three albums on Bodh Gaya https://www.esamskriti.com/a/Bihar/Bodh-Gaya.aspx
25. Devotees from Vietnam at Bodh Gaya. To see pics of album of devotees from Asia and Europe. https://www.esamskriti.com/a/Bihar/Bodh-Gaya-Temple-3.aspx
26. Very close to Bodh Gaya is Gaya. This Vishnupad temple was made by Ahilyabai Holkar in 1787. Bihar has so much to offer. Hire a vehicle and explore.
27. Pawapuri is enroute from Rajgir to Patna, about an hour’s drive. Mahavir attained salvation here in 527 B.C. To see album https://www.esamskriti.com/a/Bihar/Pawapuri.aspx
28. Loved the campus, esp. the concept of water bodies, and brick red colour of building structures is similar to the old Nalanda. It takes a lot of effort, dedication and passion to rebuild. Hope this album motivates you to rediscover Bihar.