Nalanda
| Nalanda Mahavihara archaeological site | |
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UNESCO world heritage 
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Stupa of Sariputta at Nalanda |
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| National territory: |
 India
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| Type: | Culture |
| Criteria : | iv, vi |
| Reference No .: | 1502 |
| UNESCO region : | Asia and Pacific |
| History of enrollment | |
| Enrollment: | 2016 ( session 40 ) |
Nalanda ( Hindi : नालन्दा, Nālandā) is a ruin site 15 km north of Rajgir (in today's Indian state of Bihar ). The largest Buddhist university in India, founded in the 5th century, was located here, and at times over 10,000 students and 1,000 professors studied and taught. In July 2016, UNESCO added Nalanda to its World Heritage List.
history
The Buddhist monastery of Nalanda experienced its heyday under the Gupta dynasty , but Harsha von Kannauj also promoted the educational institution. The monastery and the university connected with it attracted students from large parts of Asia; so z. For example, the Chinese pilgrims Xuanzang and Yijing stayed here for some time in the 7th century and wrote reports showing the prevalence of Mahayana Buddhism. The gradual decline of Nalanda began under the Pala Dynasty . Finally, at the beginning of the 13th century, the Muslim general and usurper Muhammad bin Bakhtiyar Khalji destroyed the monastery, which was not rebuilt.
Monastery complex
In its heyday, the brick- built monastery complex (quarry stones were sometimes used as filling material) included 9-storey buildings as well as numerous temples and monasteries. The library is said to have contained 9 million books. It was also the largest teaching center in the ancient world.
Museums
In addition to the archaeologically well-maintained facilities of the monasteries and temples, the museum, the multimedia museum and the newly built memorial site for Xuanzang, who taught in Nalanda in the 7th century, attract pilgrims and tourists from all over the world.
See also
- The Somapura Mahavihara Buddhist monastery, built a little later, is located about 500 km to the east.
- A teaching center called Nalanda was established in Tibet in 1351 .
- In order to resume the tradition as an internationally important university location, Nalanda University was founded in 2010 on the initiative of the Indian government .
literature
- August J. Bernet Kempers: The Bronzes of Nalanda and Hindu-Javanese art. Brill, Leiden 1933 (additional dissertation, University of Leiden 1933).
- Chandra Mani (Ed.): The heritage of Nalanda. Aryan Books International, New Delhi 2008, ISBN 978-81-7305-330-6 .
- Max Deeg: The oldest university in the world . In: Spectrum of Science . No. 5.17 . Holtzbrinck, 2017, ISSN 0170-2971 , p. 18–21 ( partial view [accessed April 30, 2017]).
Web links
- Archaeological Site of Nalanda Mahavihara (Nalanda University) at Nalanda, Bihar on the UNESCO World Heritage Center website ( English and French ).
Cultural heritage: Ajanta Rock Temple (1983) | Ellora Cave Temple (1983) | Red Fort in Agra (1983) | Taj Mahal (1983) | Konarak Sun Temple (1984) | Mahabalipuram Temple District (1984) | Churches and Monasteries of Goa (1986) | Khajuraho Temple District (1986) | Temple District of Hampi (1986) | Mughal city of Fatehpur Sikri (1986) | Pattadakal Temple Complex (1987) | Elephanta Caves (1987) | Great Temples of the Chola Dynasty (1987) | Buddhist shrine near Sanchi (1989) | Humayun's Mausoleum (1993) | Qutb Complex (1993) | Mountain Railways in India (1999) | Mahabodhi Temple of Bodhgaya (2002) | Bhimbetka Caves (2003) | Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (2004) | Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park (2004) | Red Fort in Delhi (2007) | The Jantar Mantar in Jaipur (2010) | Mountain Fortresses of Rajasthan (2013) | Rani Ki Vav (2014) | The architectural work of Le Corbusier : Capitol Complex in Chandigarh (2016) | Nalanda Mahavihara Archaeological Site (2016) | Old City of Ahmedabad (2017) | Victorian Gothic and Art Deco ensembles in Mumbai (2018) | Old City of Jaipur (2019)
Natural heritage: Kaziranga National Park (1985) | Manas Wildlife Sanctuary (1985) | Keoladeo National Park (1985) | Sundarbans National Park (1987) | Nanda Devi National Park and Valley of Flowers National Park (1988) | Western Ghats (2012) | Great Himalaya National Park (2014)
Cultural / natural heritage: Kangchenjunga National Park (2016)
Coordinates: 25 ° 8 ' N , 85 ° 27' E