Odantapuri

Odantapuri is a Buddhist temple near Bihar Sharif, whose stone ruins spread across several levels with chambers and passages. The site still shows the remains of decorated columns and friezes that once surrounded the monastic teaching areas and living quarters.

The monastery arose in the eighth century under the Pala rulers and developed into a center for Buddhist scholarship. It was destroyed in 1197 when the forces of general Muhammad bin Bakhtiyar Khilji swept through the region.

The name comes from the Udumbara fig tree under which Buddha is said to have meditated. Today, the remains and artifacts still reveal traces of the daily rituals and teaching methods that shaped life in this monastic community.

The site is reachable from the town of Nalanda by buses that run regularly to Bihar Sharif. The compound sits open to the sky, so a visit in the morning or late afternoon works best when the sun is less intense.

The teaching methods here later influenced the layout of Vikramashila monastic university, which was also founded in the Pala realm. Some texts report that Tibetan scholars made copies of scriptures here before returning to their homeland.