Development Plan for the Griddhkuta (Vulture's Peak)- Joint visit with the DCF

9th June-2011

Due to present-day forest management practices, many important ancient Buddhist sites now come under Forest Law, which often deprives the development of sites for the pilgrimage. Though there is a general understanding that developing these sites for the ancient Buddhist pilgrimage is important work, the procedure to do so is often so lengthy and difficult that many people are discouraged before completing the process. Pilgrimage development at Rajgriha is an appropriate step since the Rajgriha was a dense forest even at the times of the Buddha, as the Pali literature suggests. Even during the Visit of Fahein( 5th CE), Xuanzang (7th CE) and Dharmaswamin (12th CE) the place was dense forest full of wild animals. The Revival of ancient Buddhist pilgrimage in Rajgriha would necessitate development of forest. 

We now have an opportunity to focus on the ecological, social and economic values of these forest areas by considering the local communities and stakeholders in sustainable forest management when developing sites for the Buddhist pilgrimage. We are privileged to be working with Shri Rakesh Kumar, a young and dynamic Divisional Conservator of Forest for Nalanda. Shri Rakesh believes in the middle path, one that takes both an interest in sustainable forestry and in Buddhist pilgrimage revival efforts.  On 25th April 2011, we made a visit to Giriyak Hill  to visit the site and estimate necessary action at his end to let the ball rolling. Today our objective was to visit Griddhkuta area and places of antiquities around the Jivaka amrawana.  

Read more- Association of Jivaka with buddha

We visited all the places mentioned by Xuanzang and the leftover of the ancient pathways which were once walked by the pilgrims since 5th BCE. Shri RakeshJi took notice of all such antiquities. it was felt that the place can be suitably developed respecting the forest laws. Few things that could be easily done is repairing the ancient pathways and developing theme parks (Forest) based on what literature says about the place. Jiivaka Amrawana area can have a Mango grove and Peacocks should be introduced in Mornivapa (As name suggests).

It was decided we meet again with a comprehensive plan to take things to next level.This is just a beginning. We hope that with his efforts, other important places in and around Rajgriha may be appropriately developed to ensure a healthy relationship between forests and pilgrims.

The Jivaka Amrawana area

Shri Rakesh Ji with his team...taking the "Bimbisara path"

At Griddhkuta...a need of  ambulatory path around the hill

Ancient shelters of Monks as suggested by Xuanzang

Scope for the Ambulatory path ....

Ancient path connecting the stupa on the North Hill

The Paths that needs to be repaired

Myself and the team of Shri Rakesh Ji

Visit by International Financial Corporation (IFC) team

12th May, 2011
Nava Nalanda Mahavihara received a visit from an International Financial Corporation (IFC) team. IFC, a member of the World Bank, was making its preliminary survey report for its objective of facilitating private sector investments for the development of the Buddhist Circuit in India.

Consisting of Justin Yap, Xiaofang Shen, Dr. Mike Fabricus, Shri Sudhir Sahi, and Soujanya Krishnan, the team visited all of the important Buddhist pilgrimage centres and met key stakeholders along the way. These meetings are important in helping to design the infrastructures needed to create a successful Buddhist Pilgrimage Circuit with private sector investments and local community participation.

A power point presentation on the “Revival of Ancient Buddhist Pilgrimage in Bihar” Project was made by me. This project is a joint collaboration of Nava Nalanda Mahavihara and the newly formed Bihar Virasat Vikas Samiti (Department of Art, Culture and Youth, Government of Bihar). Projects such as the “Revival of the Ancient Buddhist Pilgrimage in Bihar” have been developed to work with local community involvement along the Buddhist Circuit with the aim of developing the Buddhist Circuit to meet the needs of the visiting pilgrims and providing sustainable livelihoods for the local communities.

Dr. Panth, Vice Chancellor of Nava Nalanda Mahavihara, was very pleased that the IFC team came to the presentation. Many improvements have started to be made here in Nalanda, but many more are still needed to ensure that visiting pilgrims have all the amenities they need along the Buddhist Circuit.

The team at Xuanzang Memorial Museum

Power Point Presentation in Progress

Developing Ancient Buddhist sites in Rajgriha Forest

Developing Ancient Buddhist sites in Rajgriha Forest

Many important Ancient Buddhist pilgrimage sites are now in the ambit of forest laws.  For example, Rajgriha, once the capital of the Magadha Empire, played an important role in promoting the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Sangha. Rajgriha has many sacred relics from the Buddhist period that were visited by Chinese pilgrims like, Fahein, Xuanzang and many others.

Most of the places mentioned by Xuanzang have been correctly identified and are once again pilgrimage sites for modern Buddhists. Apart from the sites mentioned by Xuanzang, there are other sites not mentioned by him that hold Buddhist remains.  These remains suggest that during the prime of the Buddhist pilgrimage, these were also important sites.

Forests were favorite place among the followers of the practice of true Dhamma. Forests provided solitude for peaceful meditation practice. The nature of forests provided the perfect ambiance to followers for peace walks and guided meditation forest walks. Because of this, many important Buddhist places were located in forests.

Due to present-day forest management practices, many important ancient Buddhist sites now come under Forest Law, which often deprives the development of sites for the pilgrimage. Though there is a general understanding that developing these sites for the ancient Buddhist pilgrimage is important work, the procedure to do so is often so lengthy and difficult that many people are discouraged before completing the process.

We now have an opportunity to focus on the ecological, social and economic values of these forest areas by considering the local communities and stakeholders in sustainable forest management when developing sites for the Buddhist pilgrimage. We are privileged to be working with Shri Rakesh Kumar, a young and dynamic Divisional Conservator of Forest for Nalanda. Shri Rakesh believes in the middle path, one that takes both an interest in sustainable forestry and in Buddhist pilgrimage revival efforts.  At his request, we went together to Giriyak Hill, to explore the possibilities of reviving this ancient heritage site to once again be in reach of patrons of the ancient Buddhist pilgrimage.

This is just a beginning. We hope that with his efforts, other important places in and around Rajgriha may be appropriately developed to ensure a healthy relationship between forests and pilgrims.

Read more- Importance of Giriyak Hill 

Read more-Scientific Clearance of Giriyak Hill by Archaeological Survey Of India

Myself with DCF, Shri Rakesh Kumar

Shri Rakesh by an ancient brick remains

Reaching the Top after an 30 minute climb

View from the top of the Stone stupa

The Ancient piece of Glory

Read more-Sariputta world peace walk

20 Ft Wide stone path from ancient times

Shri Rakesh Ji took special interest in developing access to the beautiful Ghoda katora Dam. The site is now an Eco-Tourism Destination but it faced same set of problems as it falls under the forest act.  Chief Minister Congratulated the team of officials from the forest department to make this a reality.

CM Shri Nitish Kumar Ji, DM, Nalanda Shri Sanjay Agarwal and DCF Shri Rakesh Kumar

Read more--Ghoda katora dam a tourist destination now

Ghoda Katora Dam now open for Eco- tourism

The sad situation of the Heritage Sites of Bihar

India has a way of welcoming its guests. In tourism, “Incredible! India” is promoted and “Atithi devo bahvo.” But the governmental agencies responsible for tourism and archaeology are failing. We share with you recent pictures telling the situation of a few Buddhist sites around this tourism season. These sites are being promoted by government agencies as part of the “Buddhist Circuit.”  When visitors see chained entrances, dilapidated sign boards, and stucco reliefs so damaged as to be unrecognizable, they are getting the wrong message from India, one of apathy, dispassion, and disregard.

The situation of preserving the Buddhist heritage in Bihar is in very bleak. We are all custodians of this vast heritage. As such, it is our duty to work towards preserving it for future generations the world over.

Presently, our attitude toward preserving Buddhist heritage sites and artifacts is unconcerned. Followers of the Buddha from all over the world have the right to share in this heritage. As they make their pilgrimage to India, they should be struck with awe and wonder at the enormity of this shared heritage, instead of feeling disappointment at the sorry state of the sites.

Indians, as the custodians of this Buddhist heritage, need a wake-up call. All should be doing their part to save and promote this heritage. We own a great legacy. Isn’t it time we realize this?

Read- The Protected sites of Archaeological Survey of India

The Keshariya Stupa .....as you enter the Main (only) Entrance

Read more- Kesariya Stupa

Nandangarh Stupa (Betiah)... No place for parking and the main entrance closed

Local cricket, Tourism and Heritage all in one Premises!!!

Read more-Nandangarh Stupa

The Ashokan Pillar of Lauriya Nandangarh

Read more- Lauria Nandangarh

Rampurwa Ashokan Pillar site

Rampurwa Ashokan pillar site

Main Entrance of Lauriya Areraj

Sports and Heritage tourism go hand in hand

Read more- Lauriya Areraj a Tourist place 

Lauriya Areraj...Ashokan pillar Site

Lauriya Nandangarh....Vedic Burial Stupas site

Read More- The Vedic Burial Site Tourism destination

The Experience of Aerial Photography at Buddhist Sites

Nalanda was privileged to host retired French archaeologist, Yves Guichand. As an archaeologist, his knowledge regarding Buddhist heritage sites is invaluable, as is his expertise as a kite photographer. Yves has been coming to Nalanda since 2005 to document the heritage with his aerial photographs. In the past five years, he has helped me, working with Nava Nalanda Mahavihara, to document 50 such Buddhist heritage sites with his kite photographs.

Yves fixing the camera to the kite

Ever dependent on the wind, kite photographers face the challenge of timing site visits with the cooperation of Mother Nature. Some years have been less than ideal with little to no wind at the opportune times of the visits. The last two years, however, 2010 and 2011 have been particularly fruitful. In these two years, more than 25 Buddhist heritage sites have been documented.

Aerial photography provides the bird’s eye view necessary in order to understand the shape of the structure, its placement with respect to other structures, as well as the damage to the structure itself. Besides the archaeological value of aerial photographs, these aerial pictures also provide an aesthetic value, one that allows us to realize the full scope of many large Buddhist structures from the top down.

The camera is programmed to capture images at a fixed interval. The wind needs to be strong and stable enough to carry the camera, without waving it too much. On average, the kite stays up in sky for 30 to 45 minutes and clicks an average of 150 to 200 pictures. As per the requirement, the best pictures were chosen. We share with you a few of the best shots at a few select places.

The Kite and the Camera

Yves designing a kite

The making

A prepared  kite

Cradle to hold the camera

A special camera, with an interval timer function, fixed to the cradle

Some of the Aerial Pictures Yves Shot in 2005-2011





The long stretch of mound in the Village Dharaut









Aerial view of the remains of Bari Pahari (Bihar Sharif)

A bird's eye view of the Stupa mound at Keur Village

Nandangarh Stupa

Rivulet between the stupas at Rampurwa, exactly as mentioned by Xuanzang

Top view of Nandangarh Stupa (the Diamond Shape)

A Stupa shaped mound (Top left) amidst agricultural fields

Two Ashokan Pillars over the Stupa Mound at Rampurwa

Vedic Stupas in the center of city

Top cap of the Keshariya Stupa

"Vedic Burial Stupas" of  Lauriya Nandangarh

Group of stupas in Bakhra Village (Vaishali)

Besides the usefulness of the activity of kite photography, the visits themselves have proved to be a big attraction for many villagers in these rural areas. As you can imagine, a Frenchman with a big kite is not your typical visitor to rural Bihar. Villagers welcomed us with enthusiasm wherever we traveled. Their excitement was contagious and kept us motivated to work hard for two weeks straight. Many new associations were formed with village leaders working to preserve the heritage in their areas. Here are some pictures many cheerful people we came to be acquainted with.

The excitement of the onlookers captured by the kite camera from the top

Inquisitive villagers surrounding Yves

Curious children

Yves flying the Kite

The Pied Piper .....with the followers

All eyes spotting the kite

Kite being played in the field