Bairat is an ancient Indian City which is presently a famous town. Virat Nagar was the ancient name of Bairat. In ancient India, it was the capital of a kingdom, Mahajanapada of Machcha. This kingdom later became a part of Mauryan Empire. The ruin of the oldest Buddhist structure (Chaitya) in India is found here. Lots of Mughal structures of ancient time were observed here.
Location of Bairat
It is located in the northern Jaipur District of Rajasthan. It is situated 52km north of Jaipur and 66 km west of Alwar. It is positioned 25 km west of Sariska Tiger Reserve.
History of Bairat
The History of this ancient city can be traced back to the times of Mahabharata. Bairat is believed to have been founded by king Virat. It was Virat`s kingdom where the five Pandavas spent the thirteenth years of exile in disguise.
Attractions of Bairat
The main attraction of Bairat is Virat Nagar Museum. This museum is an excellent place worth to be visited as there are many monuments from Bairat`s long history. The Museum has sculptures, coins, pottery, seals and metal objects. The museum is also home to a Buddhist Chaitya called the Bijak ki pahadi. The chapel goes back to the 3rd century BCE. The unique feature of this chapel is that it is one of the oldest Buddhist structures present in India till date which is free standing. The place is also notable for two Asokan inscriptions and important ancient Buddhist relics which were found here.
Other highlights of Bairat are the prehistoric natural caves nestled inside various hills. Bhim Ki Dungari or Pandu`s Hill is equally popular among the tourists. This is basically a large cave believed to have been the abode of Bhima, one of the Pandavas. It also comprises of some small rooms for his brothers that are situated close to his cave. In addition to these caves, Jain Nasiya and Jain Temple are the other important tourist attractions of Bairat.
Connectivity of Bairat
Bairat is well connected via air, rail, and road. The nearest airbase to Bairat is the Sanganer Airport of Jaipur. The closest railhead is the Jaipur Railway Station. Both the airport and the railway station are well connected to all the major cities of India like Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata. Visitors have the flexibility of hiring cabs from both the airport and the railway station to Bairat.
