Nalanda district is an administrative district in the Indian state of Bihar. It lies in the south-central part of the state and forms part of the Patna Division. The district takes its name from the ancient seat of learning at Nalanda, whose ruins are located within its boundaries and are inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The administrative headquarters of the district is Bihar Sharif.
| Country | India |
|---|---|
| State | Bihar |
| Division | Patna |
| Headquarters | Bihar Sharif |
| Region | Magadh |
| Major language | Magahi, Hindi, Urdu |
| Notable site | Ruins of Nalanda Mahavihara (UNESCO World Heritage Site) |
Nalanda district is bordered by Patna district to the north, Sheikhpura and Nawada to the east and south-east, Gaya to the south, and Jehanabad to the west. The terrain is largely an alluvial plain belonging to the middle Ganga basin, with low hills of the Rajgir range cutting across the southern part of the district. The Rajgir hills enclose the historic valley around Rajgir, an ancient capital of the Magadha kingdom. Principal rivers and streams include the Panchane, Sakri, Mohane, Lokain and Jirayan, most of which are seasonal.
The district is administered by a District Magistrate and Collector, with separate officers heading the police and development administrations. For administrative purposes Nalanda is divided into subdivisions and community development blocks, with Bihar Sharif as the principal urban centre. Other notable towns include Rajgir, Hilsa, Islampur, Chandi and Ekangarsarai. The district sends representatives to the Bihar Legislative Assembly from several constituencies, and forms part of the Nalanda Lok Sabha constituency.
The territory of present-day Nalanda district lies at the historical core of Magadha, one of the sixteen mahajanapadas of early historical India. The hill-girt city of Rajgir (ancient Rajagriha) served as the capital of the Magadha kingdom under the Haryanka dynasty, including kings Bimbisara and Ajatashatru, and was an important centre during the lifetimes of Gautama Buddha and Mahavira. The first Buddhist Council is traditionally said to have been held at Rajgir after the Buddha's parinirvana.
The Nalanda Mahavihara, established by the Gupta period and patronised by later rulers including Harsha and the Pala kings, became one of the most renowned centres of learning in Asia between the 5th and 12th centuries CE. Pilgrim-scholars such as Xuanzang and Yijing have left detailed accounts of its monasteries, libraries and curriculum. The mahavihara declined after invasions in the late 12th century associated with Bakhtiyar Khalji.
In the medieval period, Bihar Sharif emerged as a major Sufi centre, particularly associated with the dargah of Makhdoom Sharafuddin Ahmed Yahya Maneri on Pir Pahari. The region passed under the Delhi Sultanate, the Sur dynasty and later the Mughal Empire, before forming part of the British Bengal Presidency. Nalanda district was carved out of Patna district on 9 November 1976 as a separate revenue and administrative unit.
Nalanda is a predominantly rural district with a largely agricultural economy. Paddy, wheat, pulses, potato and onion are important crops; the district is among Bihar's leading producers of onion. Small-scale industry, trade and services are concentrated in Bihar Sharif and along major transport corridors. Magahi is the principal spoken language, with Hindi as the official language and Urdu also widely used.
The district is served by the Bakhtiyarpur–Tilaiya line of the East Central Railway, with stations at Bihar Sharif, Rajgir and other towns. National and state highways link Bihar Sharif with Patna, Nawada, Sheikhpura and Gaya. The nearest major airport is Jay Prakash Narayan Airport at Patna.
Nalanda district is a significant destination on the Buddhist circuit of India. Important sites include:
The district is widely regarded as a heartland of ancient Indian intellectual, religious and political life, associated with the rise of Buddhism and Jainism, the Magadha–Maurya political tradition, and the long history of Indian higher learning. The continuing archaeological work at Nalanda and Rajgir, together with the establishment of Nalanda University, has reinforced its role as a centre of cultural heritage and education.