Bimbisara's Jail
Ancient site · King Bimbisara (lay disciple of the Buddha) · Rajgir, Nalanda, Bihar
Buddhists come because Bimbisara, the Buddha's royal patron who is said to have attained sotapanna...
A square walled enclosure of stone in the open plain southeast of Rajgir, identified as the cell where Ajatashatru imprisoned his father Bimbisara. The walls are about 2 m thick. From inside the enclosure there is a clear direct line of sight to Griddhakuta; tradition says Bimbisara chose this spot so he could watch the Buddha on Vulture's Peak.
Plan your visit
- Best season
- September to April" (Bihar Tourism)
- Area
- Rajgir
- Status
- Coming Soon
Tirtham can arrange here
Guide, car and stay around Rajgir
Also around Rajgir
- Litti chokha: The dish people mean when they say Bihari food.
- Sattu sharbat in summer: What Bihar drinks against the heat: roasted gram, water, lemon and salt, sold from carts on every corner.
- Magahi paan: The betel leaf of old Magadh, soft enough to melt in the mouth, grown under thatch in Nawada, Gaya, Aurangabad and Nalanda.
- The ropeway up Ratnagiri: The ride up to the Vishwa Shanti Stupa, over the hills the Buddha walked, in an open chair or a cabin.
- Rajgir Mahotsav: Bihar's festival of classical dance and music, with a food fair, held in Rajgir each year.
- Silao khaja: A many-layered fried sweet made in Silao, on the road between Rajgir and Nalanda, GI-registered in 2018.
Nearby places
- Rajgir (Griddhakuta): Hills where the Buddha and Mahavira taught
- Saptaparni Cave: It is held to be where the First Buddhist Council met after the Buddha's parinirvana and where Ananda...
- Vishwa Shanti Stupa, Rajgir: Pilgrims come to circumambulate and pray for peace at one of about 80 Nipponzan Myohoji peace pagodas...
- Venuvana: It is the first monastery ever offered to the Buddha and where he spent several rains retreats, so...
- Pippala Cave: Buddhists visit it as Mahakashyapa's dwelling and a meditation retreat; Hindu visitors come for the...
- Jivakamravana: It is the mango grove the physician Jivaka gave to the sangha and where the Buddha was treated after...
- Brahma Kund: Bathing in the hot springs is treated as purifying and curative, and the water is believed to be...
- Makhdum Kund: Muslim pilgrims come to bathe in the spring associated with Makhdum Sahib and to pray at the tomb
Questions pilgrims ask
Why is Bimbisara's Jail important?
A square walled enclosure of stone in the open plain southeast of Rajgir, identified as the cell where Ajatashatru imprisoned his father Bimbisara. The walls are about 2 m thick. From inside the enclosure there is a clear direct line of sight to Griddhakuta; tradition says Bimbisara chose this spot so he could watch the Buddha on Vulture's Peak.
When is the best time to visit Bimbisara's Jail?
September to April" (Bihar Tourism).
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