ABOUT THE
Attraction
Also known as the vulture peak, due the odd shape of a protruding rock that resembles the beak of the bird of prey, the Griddhakuta hill on the outskirts of Rajgir is a sacred Buddhist site. It is said the Lord meditated in the caves in the hill. Buddhist scriptures say Lord Buddha delivered the Lotus Sutra sermon, which promises salvation for all, and the Prajnaparamita sutra, or the perfection of wisdom, here. A little way down from the hill summit is Mardakukshi Vihara, where Lord Buddha is said to have been treated after he was injured by his cousin Devadatta. A little further away are the ruins of a large monastery called Jivakamravana Vihara at the mango grove presented to Lord Buddha by Bimbisara's royal physician Jivaka, who cared for the Lord when he was injured.
A couple of kilometres from the Griddhakuta hill is Venuvan Vihara or the Monastery of the Bamboo Grove that was Bimbisara’s first gift to the Lord. Nearby is the Karanda tank, where Lord Buddha bathed.
There are several modern attractions related to Buddhism here, like the impressive white marble Shanti Stupa built by Japanese devotees.
Rajgir is sacred for the Jains too and there are several Jain temples located in and around it.
