Nalanda has a glorious past. This place is famous for the ancient Nalanda University, which was established in the 5th century B.C during Gupta period. The archaeological museum was established in the year 1917 with a view to preserve the precious elements, which were excavated at the premises of the famous monastic university and from Rajgir.
The museum is located near the ruins of the famous Nalanda Mahavira. There were several galleries, which hold 13463 antiquities. The entrance hall exhibits sixteen sculptures including the sculptures of Trailokya Vijay, Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, Maitreya, Buddha in Varad, Dharmachakra and Bhumisparsh posture, Samantbhadra, Parshvanath and Nagaraj.A big model of excavated remains of Nalanda University was also kept in this hall.
The First gallery consists of fifty-seven images and sculptures including Khasarpana, Heruka, Marichi, Vagesvari, Vaishali-mircle, Buddha in varad mudra, miracle of Sravasti, Surya, Lakshmi, Ganesh, Shiva-Parvati, Kuber and Rishabhanath.The second gallery contains different types of elements like terracotta, stuccos, iron implements and inscriptions. Those of the terracotta seal with legend "Sri Nalanda Mahavihariya arya bhikshu sanghasya", the stone inscriptions of Yashovarmana, Purnavarman of Vipula Srimitra, fragmentary tablet of Nidanasutta, terracotta tiles showing swastika and kirtimukha, Dharmachakra, Votive Stupas in pipal leaf motiff, sample of charred rice and a multi spouted pot related to serpent worship are also housed here and are worth mentioning.
In the third gallery the images related to Buddhist and Bramhanical religion were preserved .The images of Buddha in boon giving pose, Tara, Prajnaparmita, Loknath, Bodhisattava padmapani, Buddha in earth touching pose, Ganesh, Surya, Kamadeva, Indrani and Vishnu are kept in this gallery. There are thirty-six stone sculptures and images in the fourth gallery among which Kinnaras worshipping kalpadrum, Vishnu, crowned Buddha in preaching pose, Buddha in Bhumisparsh-mudhra, Marichi, Vajrapni and Padmapani Bodhisattvas are the significant ones. Two big jars excavated from the premises of Nalanda University are also preserved in the museum. The museum is open on all days from 10.00 am to 5.00 pm leaving Fridays.
