Wild Wonders of Bihar: Explore Rajgir Nature Safari in 2024. Rajgir Nature Safari is located in the historical area of Nalanda. It is also called Rajgir Wildlife Safari or Rajgir Nature Safari. It is about 101 kilometers from Patna and can be easily reached from the capital of Bihar. On the 16th February 2022, this fantastic venture opened to the public. It has since then been under the public. The project is being developed by the Department of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, Government of Bihar, and the total cost of the project has been Rs 177 crores.
The total safari area covers 191 hectares (approximately 470 acres) and has five main combinations of categories: Herbivore Safari, Bear Safari, Leopard Safari, Tiger Safari, and Lion Safari. The most unique view offers the possibility of watching the animals of different species roam freely in an open environment.
Rajgir Historical Importance
Rajgir is not merely a tourist place but has very much importance in ancient history. Many names are mentioned in the ancient texts such as Ramayana, these are Girivraj, Rajgriha, Brihadrathpur, and Kushagrapur. It finds mention in the Mahabharata too as being described as the first capital of the Magadh Empire. Historically rich capital of King Jarasandha.
Rajgir is highly associated with Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. Lord Mahavira and Mahatma Buddha came here propagating their preachings. This city was center stage for religious activities of the 6th and 5th centuries B.C.
What will you see at the Rajgir Safari?
The Rajgir Nature Safari gives an opportunity to visit animals within separate zones in natural settings. First, we have the Herbivore Safari, where herbivorous animals deer, elephant, rabbit, nilgai, buffalo, chital, sambar, black deer, hog deer, and barking deer can be seen. Seeing them roam free is always a calm experience.
The Bear Safari enables sloth bears to be observed climbing up trees or playing around on the ground. The Leopard Safari allows small glances into the world of the beautifully spotted Indian leopards, who are generally shy and prefer to rest on trees or in the safety of their shelters.
Witness Royal Bengal Tigers, a male and a female, and their offspring, at a Tiger Safari. Up close and personal comes Lion Safari, where you see females and cubs of the Asiatic lion.
Full of Fun Adventure
There awaits a world of fun and adventure that will entice everyone into an unforgettable experience of admiring the wildlife: that glass bridge, suspension bridge adventure, forest trekking, zip-lining or flying box fun, sky bike ride into heights, or even staying in mud, bamboo, and wood cottages. A host of rifle shooting, archery, etc., are also made available.
Important things to keep in mind before going on the safari
It is important for all intending visitors to Rajgir Safari to make ticket bookings intending to visit the establishment. Booking must also be made at the online booking portal, as it is impossible to find an offline ticket there, especially on a holiday or weekend. The safaris house different categories of animals some vegetarian and others carnivorous. Any kind of teasing or irritating may be dangerous.
Do keep an eye on cleanliness and don’t throw any sort of garbage outside. If you do, you may find yourself being fined. Don’t panic in any unforeseen situation; don’t push others around in case of a crowd. Watch your own safety and safety of your fellow companions too.
The multi-faceted reach of Rajgir Safari
Rajgir has today become a sacred center for many religions; hence the infrastructure is always improving by the government. Thus, one can reach Rajgir through air, rail, and bus.
In case one should come by air, the nearest airport is Gaya International Airport, with a distance of about 70 km from Rajgir. The second one would be Jayaprakash Narayan Airport which is about 102 km from Patna. Taxis and buses are available both from these places. Taxi fares can be about ₹500 and bus fares about ₹100.
For those coming by rail, the closest railway station is Rajgir Railway Station. Another option is to reach Nalanda Railway Station. The famous junctions are Gaya and Patna Junction.
Bus services are quite well-developed. The Rajgir Bus Stand is not far from the main city, and every day many people come from there. To roam around nearby places, you would have to hire an auto or a horse carriage, both of which are available.
Where to Stay: The Best Hotels in Rajgir
There is one good hotel in Rajgir, and a few of the well-known hotels are as follows:
- Hotel Anand Lok (4.6 stars),
- Hotel Sagar Inn (4.2 stars),
- Hotel Bodhi Retreat (4.0 stars),
- Hotel Nalanda Regency (3.8 stars), and
- Hotel RD Heritage (3.5 stars).
These hotels have located near the bus stand or major places and it is quite convenient.
Learning from Personal Experience
I myself have been to Rajgir because I am from Patna, which is just 70 km from there. This was in 2023, traveled with friends. We visited hotels, temples, and gurudwaras, before heading to the safari the next day without tickets. It was there we learned that online booking was required beforehand. Though this was heavily argued, entry was impossible for us. Still, after some struggle, we managed to get in with the help of a local person.
So My Advice: online ticket booking for Rajgir Nature Safari should be done before going there. It’s very cheap and pretty easy since otherwise chances are high disappointment waiting for one like me at the wrong end of the stick.
