Bihar Sharif, District capital in Nalanda, India
Bihar Sharif is the district capital of Nalanda in Bihar state, spread across low plains at about 60 meters elevation. The city holds roughly 300,000 people and serves as an administrative hub managed by a municipal corporation.
The site once housed Odantapuri, one of Asia's major Buddhist monastery universities that attracted roughly 12,000 students. Its destruction came in 1193 when Muhammad bin Bakhtiyar Khilji attacked, ending a centuries-old center of learning.
The name merges Bihar from vihara (monastery) and Sharif (noble), showing ties to Buddhist scholarship and Islamic culture. This blend of traditions remains visible in how locals relate to their city's layered past.
The city is accessible by local transport and offers schools, offices, and shops throughout. Visitors can find various accommodation options, though bringing water and sun protection during warm months is advisable.
A stone pillar near the old fort bears inscriptions from Gupta emperors Kumaragupta and Skandagupta from the 5th century. These carvings connect the city to one of India's most influential empires from long ago.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
