​From Glass Bridge to Valmiki National Park: 8 unique places to visit in Bihar​

Bihar, the city that is steeped in history, culture, arts and mythology, is not just any place on the map. It's that city, where every place, curve and monument whispers ancient tales of valoru, history, and every forest holds a legend. While most us love to travel to the mountains and explore beaches, this city has some of the most beautiful sights to behold. If one is lucky enough to visit this ancient city, here are 8 must-visit unique places that show us the rich side of Bihar. (IMAGE: Bihar tourism.gov)

Rajgir, a city that is nestled among five scenic hills in Bihar, blends together adventure, history and breathtaking views of nature. Most of us are not aware of this fact that it's home to one of the country's most beautiful glass skywalks, a suspension bridge and a nature safari with a zip-line, sky biking and rich wildlife. Rajgir was once the capital of Magadh, and now it holds deep roots in Buddhism, with famous spiritual sites such as Venu van and Griddhakuta hills. (Image: representative)

Kanwar Lake, famously known as Kabartaal Jheel, is a crescent moon-shaped oxbow lake in northern Bihar, Begusarai district, formed by the Gandak River’s meandering, a tributary of the Ganga. This place serves as a vital stop for 58 migratory fish species and rare birds, making it a promising eco-tourism and conservation destination.

The only Tiger reserve in Bihar, known for its stunning natural haven located in northwestern part of West Champaran. Nestled at the eastern edge of the Himalayan Terai forests, this park features a rich mix of bhabar and terai landscapes. With three distinct entry points, this reserve offers a unique blend of biodiversity, scenic beauty and eco-tourism potential. Diverse habitats of the Sanctuary support a variety of faunal life forms. Tigers, Leopards and Indian Wild Dogs are the large predators. Leopard cat and fishing cat are also found in patches.

This international meditation centre in Bodh Gaya was founded back in 1970 with one clear mission: To share the practical and scientific teachings of Buddhism to all people and help them cultivate lasting inner peace and wisdom through Vipassana meditation. Under the guidance of several experienced teachers, this center continues to offer meaningful meditation training to seekers from around the world.

Located just outside of Patna, Maner is a small town in Bihar, which house this gem of a place, known for its deeply spiritual and culturally rich sufi shrine located to two renowned saints, Makhdoom Yahya Maneri and Makhdoom Shah Daulat. This place is a beautiful example of Mughal style domes and beautiful arches, with delicately crafted calligraphy on the walls; this site is as much as a visual delight as a spiritual one. (IMAGE: Bihar.gov tourism)

This is a hidden gem on Bihar’s border, tucked away between Jharkhand and Bihar. This place is an absolutely wonderful sight for sore eyes. Cascading from a height of around 150-160 ft, this waterfall creates a serene natural pool at its base, drawing in crowds from all over, people who would love to soak in the beauty of this place. This place is steeped in mythology too. Legend has it that during Treta Yug, a cursed king lived here as a python, until the Pandavas visited this place during their exile, freed him of his curve and blessed these waters so that anyone who ever bathed would never be reborn as a snake. (Image: Bihar. gov tourism)

Spanning across 60km between Sultanganj and Kahalgaon, this sanctuary is India’s only protected habitat for the endangered Gangetic dolphin. During monsoon, this area turns magical! It attracts rare birds like Indian Skimmer and the Greater Adjutant. It is recognised as a Key Biodiversity Area and is a haven for countless bird species and aquatic life.

(IMAGE: Bihar.gov tourism)