Nalanda – Where 10,000 Students Once Learned Together
Did you know that Nalanda University (established in the 5th century CE, in present-day Bihar) was one of the world’s first residential universities? At its peak, it housed over 10,000 students and 2,000 teachers from across Asia—China, Korea, Japan, Tibet, and even Central Asia. 📚✨
Nalanda wasn’t just a center for Buddhist studies. It offered advanced learning in mathematics, astronomy, medicine, logic, grammar, and philosophy—essentially a global hub of knowledge long before modern universities emerged.
One fascinating fact: the library, known as Dharmaganja, had nine stories filled with manuscripts. Records say it burned for months when destroyed by invaders in the 12th century. Yet, Nalanda’s influence lived on—the great Chinese scholar Xuanzang studied and taught there, carrying its wisdom back to China.
Today, Nalanda is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, symbolizing India’s age-old pursuit of knowledge and cultural exchange.
