Pawapuri

Nalanda is an ancient city in the Indian state of Bihar. It is located in the Nalanda district, 55 kilometres (34 mi) south-east of Patna, the capital of Bihar. Nalanda is the site of a monastic university dating from the 5th century CE. It was the largest and most influential center of learning in India during its time. The site of Nalanda is located in a village called Piprawa, about 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) from the town of Rajgir. It is in a valley surrounded by small hills. Nalanda is mentioned in ancient Indian and Tibetan texts. The Chinese traveller Xuanzang, who visited Nalanda in the 7th century CE, described it as a large and beautiful monastery with a thousand monks and a thousand students. Nalanda was sacked and destroyed by Muslim raiders in the 12th century CE. The ruins were excavated in the 19th century CE. Nalanda is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Nalanda University was a Buddhist center of learning in India from the 5th century CE to the 12th century CE. It was located in the Nalanda district of Bihar, about 55 kilometres (34 mi) south-east of Patna, the capital of Bihar. Nalanda was the largest and most influential center of learning in India during its time. The university was destroyed by Muslim raiders in the 12th century CE. The ruins were excavated in the 19th century CE. Nalanda is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.