The site of Nalanda was one of the greatest monastic universities of the ancient world. Established in the 5th century B.C. it remained a live center of learning till the 12th century A.D. when it was destroyed by the invader Bakhtiar Khilji. Lord Mahavira and the Buddha both taught here for years. Hsuan Tsang. the Chinese traveler studied here in the 7th century A.D. and there is a monument in his memory. He was one amongst many of those from East and Southeast Asia who came here to study logic, meta-physics, medicine, prose composition and rhetoric. The university of Nalanda offered free educational and residential facilities to as many as 10,000 students and 2000 teachers, for it was supported by a number of villages. Its library, Ratna Sagar, is believed to have contained nine million volumes. It is not surprising, then, that the destruction of this university dealt a crippling blow to Buddhist education in India.

Excavations have revealed nine levels of occupation. Spread over 15 hectares stand the ruins of six temples, eleven monasteries, the Sariputra Stupa built by Asoka to honor the Buddha's first disciple, Ananda, and scattered chaityas or prayer halls. Sculptures, bas reliefs and frescoes are still to be seen amongst the ruins. In 1951 an international center for Buddhist studies was founded. Another mordern institution is the Nava Nalanda Mahavir Research Centre treasuring many rare manuscripts. There is also a museum and a Thai Temple.