Didarganj Yakshi

✎ The Didarganj Yakshi (or Didarganj Chauri Bearer) is sometimes considered as one of the finest examples of Mauryan art.

✎ It is rather dated to the second century CE, based on the analysis of shape and ornamentation.

✎ The sculpture is currently located in the Bihar Museum in Bihar, India.

✎ It is 64” tall, carved out of a single piece of stone.

✎ This life-size standing image is tall, well proportioned; free-standing sculpture is made of sandstone with well-polished surface, a characteristic usually associated with Mauryan polish.

✎ The flywhisk (Chauri) is held in the right hand whereas the left hand is broken. The lower garment creates a transparent effect.

✎ The Didarganj Yakshi is estimated to date from ca. 3rd century BCE to the 2nd century CE.

✎ It was excavated on the banks of the Ganges River, at the hamlet of Didarganj Kadam Basaul, northeast of the Qadam-i-Rasul mosque in Patna city, in October 1917 by noted archaeologist and historian, Professor J.N. Samaddar.

✎ A Patna museum publication describes how in the letter of Honourable E.H.S. Walsh, then Commission of Patna, credit is given to a man name Ghulam Rasul, who saw the base sticking out from the muddy banks of the riverside near Didarganj. Rasul then proceeded to dig up the grounds to find the statue.

✎ The other story related to Didarganj Yakshi is that on the banks of the Ganges in Didarganj in old Patna city, for years it was said that dhobis washed clothes on a slab that was sticking out of the earth. One day, a snake appeared in the precincts and as the villagers followed in chase, it slithered away into a hole in the ground near the slab. Villagers started to dig up the earth; they found the slab was actually the bottom pedestal of a marvelous statue, which we now called the Didarganj Yakshi.

✎ The Yakshi(meaning female earth spirit) embodies close to perfect standards of feminine beauty of ancient India.

✎ The most striking about the statue is that after one has absorbed the obviously attractive features, is the graceful manner in which the figure endears itself to us.

✎ The Yakshistoops slightly forward instead of standing upright, seeking a posture of humility.

✎ The design of her right leg is slightly bent as if due to the weight of the fly-whisk she holds and the firmness of her grip on the chauri shows the delicacy of rendition in detailing.

✎ It is a figure in the round, which means it can be viewed from all angles.

Tomb of Sher Shah Suri

✎ The tomb of Sher Shah Suri is in the Sasaram town of Bihar state, India.
✎ The tomb was built in memory of Emperor Sher Shah Suri, a Pathan from Bihar to defeat the Mughal Empire and founded the Suri Empire in Northern India.
✎ He died in an accidental gunpowder explosion in the fort of Kalinjar on 10th day of Rabi-al-awwal, A.H. 952 or 13th May 1545 A.D.
✎ His tomb is an example of Indo-Islamic architecture, it was designed by the architect Mir Muhammad Aliwal Khan and built between 1540 and 1545, this red sound stone mausoleum (122 ft. high), which stands in the middle of an artificial lake, which is nearly square, is known as the second Taj Mahal of India.
✎ The tomb stands at the centre of the lake on a square stone pinth with domed kiosis, chhatris at each of its corners, further there are stone banks and stepped moorings on all sides of the plint, which is connected to the mainland through a wide stone bridge.
✎ The main tomb is built on octagonal plan, topped by a dome, 22-metre in span and surrounded ornamental domed kiosis which were once covered in colored glazed tile work.
✎ The tomb was built during the lifetime of Sher Shah as well as the reign of his son Islam Shah.
✎ An inscription dates its completion to August 16, 1545, 3 months after the death of Sher Shah.
✎ It stands on the GT Road in the middle of an artificial lake in Bihar.
✎ The interior of the tomb is well ventilated and lit as light passes through large windows on the top portion of the walls fitted with stone jalis of varying patterns.
✎ There are stone banks and stepped moorings on all sides of the plinth, that can be accessed from the main land through a broad stone bridge.
Its height from the floor to the apex of the dome is 101 feet and its total height above the water is over 150 feet.
✎ The octagon forming the tomb has an interior diameter of 75 feet and an exterior diameter of 104 feet.

Padri - Ki - Haveli

✎ Padri-ki-Haveli (“Mansion of Padre”), also known as visitation of the blessed Virgin Mary.

✎ It is oldest church in Bihar.Padre Ki Haveli is also known as St. Mary’s church.

✎ It is located around 9.5km from Central Patna at Phulwari Sharif.

✎ When Roman Catholics arrived in Bihar, they built a small church in 1713 at a place now known as Padri-ki-Haveli.

✎ The current church was re-designed by a Venetian architect Tirreto in 1772. He came from Kolkata to design this church.

✎ Nawab Mir Qasim destroyed this church because of quarrel with the British traders on 25 June 1763. Ancient records were destroyed and burnt consequently. Later in 1857, during the Great Indian Rebellion again this church suffered with many damages.

✎ It has witnessed a lot of battles like battle with English traders, 1857 Sepoy mutiny.

✎ The foundation stone of this huge church has a dimension of 70 feet in length, 40 feet wide and 50 feet in height.

✎ Today, the monument stands as an architectural wonder with intricate details which can be seen in few other churches of India.

✎ The main attraction of the church is the large Cathedral bell.

✎ Mother Teresa had been trained as a nurse over here.

People, especially Christians, visit the site in large numbers to offer their prayers on a regular basis.

✎ The church is open on all days even on public holidays from 06:00a.m. To 08:00p.m.

✎ The entrance fee of the church is free and anyone can go to the church for prayer without having any different caste, creed, color and religion.

Sita Kund

✎ Sita Kund is a Hindu pilgrimage site in Sitamarhi district, in the Indian state of Bihar, which has an ancient Hindu temple.

✎ Sita Kund place is the honor of being the birthplace of Hindu Goddess, Sita.

✎ It is situated 5 km west of Sitamarhi town and a popular visitor’s attraction.

✎ Sita Kund is a holy hot water spring, situated near a temple.

✎ Punaura Dham Mandir is one of the holiest Hindu temples dedicated to Goddess Sita, located in Sitamarhi, Bihar, India. Millions of pilgrims visit the temple every year and most visited religious shrine in North India.

✎ Sitamarhi is the place where Sita was born, the main character of the epic Ramayana. The town is situated along the border of Nepal.

✎ This town was almost completely destroyed by the earthquake of 1939.

Nearby Sita Kund is a reservoir of cold water which is known as the Rama Kund.

✎ To the west of the Sita Kund lie the Lakshman Kund, Bharat Kund and Shatrugan Kund, named after the three brothers of Lord Rama.

✎ According to legend when Goddess Sita came out of the fire, she took bath in this pool and the heat of the body was absorbed by the water of the pool.

✎ The hot spring is now enclosed in a masonry reservoir and is visited by large number of pilgrims, especially at the full moon of Magh.

Kastaharni Ghat - Tourist Attraction of Bihar

✎ Kastaharni Ghat is a ghat or bathing place on the river Ganges, at Munger in Indian state of Bihar.

✎ The name “Kastaharni Ghat” literally means “The bathing place which expels all pains”.

✎ In the 26th Adhyaya (chapter) of Adi Kanda of the Valmiki Ramayana, it is mentioned that both Lord Rama and his brother Lakshmana on their way back from the encounter with Taraka, the demoness, took rest at the spot. The relaxation they had given rise to the name of Kastaharni Ghat. According to another account it was on his return journey from Mithila to Ayodhya after marrying Sita that Lord Rama bathed at this place to relieve himself from fatigue.

✎ In the 6th century, C.E., a Hindu sage named Mudgal Muni appeared in the city and established two shrines, one at a rock at Kastaharni Ghat.

✎ According to Hindu folklore, one who takes a dip in this ghat receives solace and cure from bodily pains.

✎ Its significance is enhanced by the northerly flow of the river at this point, which is termed Uttarvahini Ganga.

✎ The ghat premises are managed by Sri Jagannatha temple trust of Munger.

✎ It is one of the wonderful places to spend one’s evenings and is one of the best loved tourist spots for the rich scenic beauty.

Chandika Sthan

✎ Chandika Sthan is Hindu temple, situated in Munger, in the Indian state of Bihar.

✎ It is one of the 51 Shakti Peethas, places of worship consecrated to the goddess Shakti.

✎ On the Northeast corner of Munger, Chandika Sthan is just 2kms away from the Munger town.

✎ Being a Siddhi- Peetha, Chandika Sthan is considered to be one of the most sacred and sanctified temples.

✎ Legendary tales and Hindu folklore says that it was to save the world from the anger of Lord Shiva, as he took the corpse of Sati and began dancing in a “Tandav Mudra”, as a result of which the earth began to shake and the whole creation was about to destroy. Lord Vishnu managed to cut Sati’s corpse in 64 pieces by his Sudarshan Chakra. The same legend says that the left eye of the Sati felt at Munger, which subsequently developed into a place of worship of the Divine mother Chandi.

✎ Chandika Sthan is famous for the cure of eye troubles, as per the traditional belief of the local folklore.

✎ Another legend connected with Chandika Sthan is regarding King Karna of the ancient Indian king of Anga, who used to worship Goddess Chandi Mata every day and in turn the goddess gave him 114 pounds (equivalent to 50kgs) of gold for distribution among the needy and downtrodden at Karanchaura, now a local name of vicinity.

✎ The architecture of the temple gives the view of an inverted could ran onthe Ganga and very close to it on the eastern side of the Samashan or cremation site.

✎ During the 10 days of Durga Puja all roads lead to Chandi Asthan on the 8th day (Ashtami day) Yogis, Sanyasis, Tantriks come here from Kamakshya to perform their Tantric Siddhis.

✎ It is still a place where goats are sacrified on every Tuesday.

Dungeshwari Cave Temple

✎ Dungeshwari cave temples, also known as Mahakala caves, is situated 12 km north-east of Bodhgaya, in Gaya District, Bihar.

✎ Dungeshwara temple was built in 7th and 10th century A.D. by Sakya prince.

✎ Gautama Siddhartha is believed to have piously meditated at this place for 6 years before he went to Bodhgaya for the final realization.

✎ Two small shrines are built to commemorate this phase of Buddha.

✎ A golden emaciated Buddha sculpture memorizing the rigid penance is enshrined in one of the cave temples and a large (about 6’ tall) Buddha’s statue in the other.

✎ A Hindu goddess deity Durgeshwari is also placed inside the cave temple.

✎ This temple is also popular as Sujata Sthan for local people.

✎ It is believed that when Buddha was doing his self-mortification, he became frail, feeble and starved then a village woman named Sujata offered him food. Buddha accepted her offerings and consumed the food; his explicit approval presented him with a divine truth that neither extreme self-indulgence nor self-abasement is the right way to attain enlightenment. Buddha attained the knowledge that following the middle path will lead to attaining the supreme nirvana. This temple stands as a symbol commemorating this event.

✎ Timings of the temple are 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

✎ Entry is free for all people in this temple.