Nalanda University
Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently opened the new campus of Nalanda University in Bihar. This was an important event. Nalanda University is an important part of India’s history and culture.
Ancient Nalanda University: Nalanda University is one of the oldest universities in the world. It was built in the fifth century, about 1,500 years ago. Nalanda was a Buddhist mahavihara (a grand monastery) in ancient and medieval Magadha (today's Bihar). It was a famous learning centre. Students from many countries studied different subjects. These subjects included science, mathematics, astronomy, philosophy and medicine. Many travellers from different countries came here. Hiuen Tsang was a Chinese traveller who stayed in Nalanda both as a student and a teacher. The ancient Nalanda Library had countless Sanskrit texts (manuscripts).
Nalanda University was destroyed in 1193 by an attack led by Bakhtiyar Khilji. He was an Afghan conqueror. Nalanda was more than six times older than the oldest European university, the University of Bologna in Italy.
The New Campus: The new campus is in Rajgir, Bihar. It is less than 12km from the ancient ruins of Nalanda University. The campus is about 100km from Patna. It covers a large area of about 455 acres. It has modern facilities. But it still has the ancient architectural style of the original Nalanda University. The campus also has a beautiful Bodhi tree. This tree is a symbol of peace and knowledge.
