Nalanda, Ancient Buddhist Academic Excellence

National Highway 82, Nalanda, Bihar 803111, India

The Lantau Island Archaeological Site of Nga Lant Pagoda

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Introduction

Nalanda Monastery is an ancient Buddhist institution and academic center in ancient Central India, located near the town of Sharigaon, 90 kilometers southeast of Patna, Bihar. The temple was grand in scale, with a collection of nine million volumes. It produced many renowned scholars throughout history, attracting thousands of monks and scholars. Famous monks like Xuanzang and Yijing studied Buddhist scriptures and Brahmanism here and recorded detailed descriptions. The temple was covered with specially made materials on its roofs, eaves, and courtyard floors, making it highly durable. It had over a hundred lecture halls each day, offering courses in Mahayana scriptures, astronomy, mathematics, medicine, and more. However, in 1193, the Turkic people, led by Khalji, invaded and destroyed the temple and library. Over time, the temple was forgotten and became ruins. Since 1861, the remains of the Nalanda Monastery have been excavated, revealing multiple temple ruins. In 2014, Nalanda University resumed enrollment and accepted students from around the world. International foundations from Singapore, India, Japan, and other countries continue to support the reconstruction of Nalanda Monastery. The Chinese government has also made donations to support Sino-Indian cultural exchanges.