First residential university - Nalanda

The Nalanda university had 2,000 teachers and 10,000 students from all over the Buddhist world.

A walk in the ruins of the university takes you to an era that saw India leading in imparting knowledge to the world - the era when India was a coveted place for studies. The university flourished during the 5th and 12th century.

Founded in the 5th Century AD, Nalanda had 2,000 teachers and 10,000 monks students from all over the Buddhist world lived and studied there, the first residential international university of the World.

The total area of the excavation is about 14 hectares. All the edifices are of the red brick and the gardens are beautiful. The buildings are divided by a central walk way that goes south to north. Yesteryear bollywood blockbuster Johny Mera Naam starring Dev Anand and Hema Malini was shot here.

The famous Chinese traveller centuries. Hieun Tsang (Xuanzang) stayed here in the 7th century AD and left detailed description of the excellence of education system and purity of monastic life practised here. He also gave a vivid account of both the ambience and architecture of this unique university of ancient times.

The Gupta rulers patronised these monasteries, built in old Kushan architectural style, in a row of cells around a courtyard. Emperor Harshavardhana was one of its most celebrated patrons who built temples, monasteries and ‘Viharas' here.

Otherwise known for its soccer and coffee, Brazil has of late earned fame for its Nalanda Buddhist Centre (NBC), which was set up in 1989. "Scholars at my centre are thrilled about the name Nalanda. I am constantly providing them updates about this place." said NBC director Ricardo Sasaki.