Jalmandir

In Pawapuri, or Apapuri, 38 kilometres from Rajgir and 90 kilometres from Patna, all sins end for a devout Jain. Lord Mahavira, the final tirthankar and founder of Jainism, breathed his last at this place, and was cremated here around 500 B.C. It is said that the demand for his ashes was so great that a large amount of soil was removed from around the funeral pyre, creating the water tank. A marble temple, the Jalmandir, was later built in the middle of the tank, and is now a major pilgrimage spot for Jains. Another Jain temple called Samosharan is located here.

When to Visit

The best time to visit Pawapuri is between October and March.

How to Get There

Patna, 90 kilometres away is the nearest airport. The nearest rail heads are Rajgir and Gaya. A taxi or bus can be taken from Patna, Rajgir, Gaya or other major cities of Bihar to visit Pawapuri. Patna is linked by air to Delhi, Calcutta, Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Lucknow. It also has rail connections with Delhi, Mumbai, Varanasi, Calcutta and many other major cities.

Where to Stay

It is advisable for visitors to stay in Rajgir and pay a day's visit to Pawapuri. Centaur Hokke Hotel (Tel: +91-6119-5245, 5032-37, Fax: 5231), Tourist Bungalows I & II, M.O. Rest House, DB Inspection Bungalow and Dharamshalas (rest houses) are good options for visitors who wish to stay in Rajgir. Visitors who wish to stay in Patna can choose from Hotel Pataliputra Ashok, Hotel Welcomgroup Maurya (Tel: +91-612-222060-67, Fax: 222069), Hotel Chanakya (Tel: +91-612-220590-96, Fax: 220598) and Hotel Republic (Tel: +91-612-655021-24, Fax: 655024) or a host of other low budget hotels.

Contact

Bihar Tourist Information Centre, Mazharul Haque Path, Frazer Road, Patna. Tel: +91-612-25295

Bihar Tourist Information Centre, 216-217, Kanishka Shopping Plaza, 19 Ashok Road, New Delhi. Tel: +91-11-3723371