Seven Wonders of Bihar and Jharkhand - Shortlisted by people on NDTV's online poll.

This is an absolutely lovely video of the seven wonders of Bihar and Jharkhand selected by people in a poll over NDTV in the beginning of 2009. While Bihar and Jharkhand have many more tourism attractions, these 7 were people's choice of the wonders in Bihar.

The ones selected in Bihar are

1. Nalanda University
2. Mahabodhi Temple
3. Sher Shah Mausoleum
4. Barabar Caves
5. Kesariya Stupa
6. Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Public
7. Maluti

True to it being the centre of power in historical India, Bihar has a richness of tradition and boasts of some of the first's signs of progress, knowledge and lifestyles. Details on each of these places and the video provided below are courtsey of the NDTV website.

Nalanda University:

Located 55 miles from Patna in Bihar. The monasteries are built in old Kushan architectural style, in a row of cells around a courtyard.It was the Buddhist center of learning from 427 to 1197 CE partly under the Pala Empire.It is believed that Buddha visited Nalanda during his last tour through Magadha, and it was there that Sariputta uttered his lion`s roar, affirming his faith in the Buddha.University of Nalanda was established in 450 CE under the patronage of the Gupta emperors, notably Kumara Gupta.Nava Nalanda Mahavihara is devoted to the study and research in Pali Literature and Buddhism.

Nalanda was the largest residential centre of learning in the world with a 9 storied library.


Mahabodhi Temple:

Located in Bodhgaya in Gaya District of Bihar. Constructed of brick, the temple is surrounded on all four sides by stone railings, about two metres high. The railings reveal two distinct types, both in style as well as the materials used. Buddhist Emperor Asoka visited Bodh Gaya with the intention of establishing a monastery and shrine. As part of the temple he built, the diamond throne (called the Vajrasana), attempting to mark the exact spot of the Buddha`s enlightenment, was established. It is one of the oldest brick structures to have survived in eastern India.

Mahabodhi Temple is the place where Buddha attained enlightenment.



Sher Shah Mausoleum:

Loacted in Sasarm, in Bihar, Sher Shah Sur Mausoleum is an example of Indo-pathan architecture. It appears perfectly symmetrical but its base has a slight deviation at the cardinal points. It is built on a large square terrace; the corners support the octagonal pavilions with small kiosks between them. The three-storied mausoleum rises to a height of 45.7 m and was originally planned to be a typical island tomb with no access to the mainland.

Built during the 16th century, it reflects the lifestyle of the 16th century Afghans.


Barabar Caves:

Located 18 km north of Gaya in the Jehanabad District of Bihar. Consists of four caves including Lomas Rishi, Sudama, Karan Chopar (Nigoha-kubhaor Banyan Tree Cave) and Vishva Zopari.
The caves fall under three categories, Nagarjuniya caves, Pandava caves and cottage - shaped hut caves. They are carved out of huge granite rocks, and two of them are in the form of a plain rectangular outer hall. Each cave carries Buddhist inscriptions and houses. These caves look as if they are cut with a laser. Used by ascetics from the Ajivika sect, these caves were founded by Makkhali Gosala. Were an influence to future South Asian rock-cut architecture.

Oldest surviving rock-cut caves in India from the Mauryan period (322 – 185 BC).


Kesariya Stupa:

Located in Kesariya, about 55 km from Vaishali, in East Champaran District. Is a terraced circular Buddhist stupa of bricks laid in a very thin layer of mud, mortar and capped by a large cylindrical drum of solid brick work. Consists of five huge terraces, each enshrining life size images of Lord Buddha and 104 feet high. A giant manadala can be seen at the top. Life size images of Buddha found within the cells of the stupa representing Buddha’s various postures. It commemorates the spot where Buddha rested on his final journey to Kushinagar from Vaishali.


It is considered the biggest Buddhist stupa in the world.


Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Public Library:

Located close to the banks of the Ganges, in Patna. . Though founded earlier, it was opened for public in 1891 by Bahadur Khuda Bakhsh with 4,000 manuscripts. It is a repository of about 21000 Oriental manuscripts and 2.5 lakh printed books. Has a rare collection of Persian and Arabic manuscript and paintings during Rajput and Mughal rule in India.


The Khuda Baksh Oriental Library is one of the oldest libraries in India.


Maluti:

Located near Shikaripara in Dumka District of Jharkhand. Built in Shikara style, which contains two rooms with a verandah. It is made of burnt bricks and lime mortars and items such as terracotta plates are used to decorate them. Most of the temples belong to the late medieval age. Majority of these temples are dedicated to Lord Shiva, & the rest to gods and goddesses such as Vishnu and Durga.