Kurkihar is located at a distance of 22 kilometers from Gaya, Bihar. Several statues of Buddha and Bodhisattvas are there. These historical evidences reveal that Buddha had once visited this place. Kurkihar also houses an ancient Buddhist Monastery and two Hindu temples. The village of Kurkihar lies on the mound of the remains of an ancient Buddhist Monastery. This village shot to fame in 1930 when 148 bronze artifacts were excavated from the mound.
These antiques comprised of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas in various shapes and sizes, bells, stupas and several items necessary for Buddhist rituals. These reflect the expert craftsmanship of the by gone eras. One of the two Hindu temples located here has excellent collection of Buddhist sculptures. The finest amongst these statues is that of Akshobhya Buddha. This particular statue has been placed just outside the temple entrance. Another striking feature of the temple is its pillars. There are 14 carved pillars that date back to the 9th century AD.
The travelers will find some of the antiques in the Patna Museum while some of these have been displayed in the Indian Museum in Kolkata.
Kurkihar is accessible from Gaya. This village is located at a distance of 3 kilometer from the main Gaya-Rajgir road.
