Ruins of Nalanda University , Nalanda , Bihar , India
Nalanda Mahavihar , regarded as one of the greatest universities of ancient world, was founded by Kumara Gupta I ( 413- 455 AD.) of the Great Gupta Dynasty, King Harshavardhana of Kannauj (606-647AD) and the Pala kings of east India (8 th – 12 th century A.D.) continued to extend patronage to this centre. The decline of this great institution started in later Pala period but the final blow came in around 1200 A.D. by the invasion of Bakhtiyar Khilji. History of Nalanda goes back to the days of Mahavira and Buddha in 6 th century B.C. It was the place of birth and Nirvana of Sariputra, one of the famous desciples of Buddha. The place rose to prominence in 5 th century A.D. as a great monastic-cum-educational institution for oriental art and learning in the whole Buddhist world attracting students from distant countries including China. The galaxy of luminaries associated with it includes Nagarjuna, Aryadeva, Vasubandhu , Dh...