Bihar overview

As the birthplace of Buddhism in the country, Bihar occupies a significant place in India’s spiritual history. Siddhartha Gautama – the Buddha – had spent most of his time in Bihar and attained enlightenment under a bodhi tree in Bodhgaya, making the place the world’s most important Buddhist pilgrimage site. Like most rural villages, Bodhgaya has several notable monasteries that attract many Buddhist devotees wanting to meditate. Unfortunately, despite its spiritual heritage, Bihar is one of the poorest states in India. The city is wracked by infrequent inter-caste warfare and kidnappings – making Bihar an unpleasant place for tourists. The extreme poverty and lawlessness in Bihar make travelling private cars and buses easy targets for bandits. Therefore, foreign tourists are advised to take extra care when visiting Bihar. It would be good to split up valuables when making long journeys and to avoid travelling after sundown.