The Jethian to Rajgir walk
The valley road the Buddha and King Bimbisara are said to have met on
What it is
A walk of roughly fourteen kilometres through the Jethian valley, over the hills, and down into Rajgir — the route by which the Buddha is said to have come from Bodh Gaya to Rajagriha, and where the king came out to meet him. Monks and lay walkers from several countries do it together as an organised Dhamma Walk most years, usually in December.
Why it matters
It is the only stretch of the Buddha's own road you can still walk end to end, through a valley that has barely been built on. Most people who visit both towns drive between them in forty minutes on a different road and never see it.
How it works
- Start early from Jethian. The organised walk begins around dawn.
- The path crosses fields and low hills; there are villages on the way.
- It ends at Rajgir, most often at Venuvana or the Shanti Stupa.
- Who it is for
- Anybody who can walk fourteen kilometres over low hills in a day.
- Not for
- Anybody who cannot. There is no way to shorten it once you start.
- Best season
- Nov - Feb
- Difficulty
- Moderate. Fourteen kilometres, low hills, little shade.
- Cost
- Free to walk it yourself. A guide and a car at the far end are arranged.
- When
- Any cool day. The international Dhamma Walk is usually in December.
- Booking
- The organised December walk is announced by its organisers each year.
- Book ahead
- A month
- Languages
- Hindi, English
Rules
- Walk at the pace of the slowest in your group
- Villages along the route often offer water. Accept it
What to bring
- Two litres of water
- A hat
- Walking shoes
- Something for blisters
Where
- Rajgir (Griddhakuta): Hills where the Buddha and Mahavira taught
- Venuvana: It is the first monastery ever offered to the Buddha and where he spent several rains retreats, so...
- Vishwa Shanti Stupa, Rajgir: Pilgrims come to circumambulate and pray for peace at one of about 80 Nipponzan Myohoji peace pagodas...
- Giriyak Stupa: It is the surviving Gupta-period stupa of the Rajgir hills, visible for miles, and carries a double...
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