North of Orissa is the State of Bihar where Buddhism was bom 2500 years ago. In Bodh Gaya, 160 km from the State capital, Patna, is the very same tree, still growing out of its own saplings, under which the Buddha meditated and attained enlightenment twenty-five centuries ago. It is an important pilgrim centre for Buddhists.
At Nalanda, the world’s earliest university, founded two-and-a-half thousand years ago, is now quiet and still. It once housed 2000 teachers and 10,000 students from all parts of the then civilised world. It was patronised by the Buddhist emperor Ashoka who built temples and monasteries here. An International Centre for Buddhist studies has been established.
