Rajgir

Rajgir (old name Rajagriha, meaning "The City of Kings") is an ancient city and university town in the Nalanda district of Bihar, India. It is also considered a cultural capital of Magadh. It was the capital of the Haryanka dynasty, the Pradyota dynasty, the Brihadratha dynasty, the Maurya Empire, and it was the retreat center for the Buddha and his sangha. Other historical figures such as Mahavira and king Bimbisara lived there, and due to its religious significance, the city holds a place of prominence in Buddhist, Jain and Hindu scriptures. Rajgir was the first capital of the ancient kingdom of Magadha, a state that would eventually evolve into the Maurya Empire. It finds mention in India's renowned literary epic, the Mahabharata, through its king Jarasandha. The town's date of origin is unknown, although ceramics dating to about 1000 BCE have been found in the city. The 2,500-year-old cyclopean wall is also located in the region. The ancient Nalanda university was located in the vicinity of Rajgir, and the contemporary Nalanda University named after it was founded in 2010 nearby. The town is also famed for its natural springs and towering hills that dominate the landscape. It is also mentioned in the Valmiki Ramayana where Lord Rama and Sage Vishvamitra are described as passing through the region on their way to meet visit King Janaka. As of 2011, the population of the town was reported to be 41,000 while the population in the community development block was about 88,500.