A Pilgrimage Special: Vulture Peak

At Rajgir, we visited Gridhkuta Peak or more popularly known as Vulture peak, a placed said to be loved dearly by Lord Buddha. Many important incidents happened around here. Prior to his enlightenment, Lord Buddha had stayed in a cave here on his first alms begging mission and after enlightenment had again returned to deliver sermons and convert the powerful Magadhan King Bimbisara . Devadatta also let loose an intoxicated elephant to kill the Buddha here and threw a rock which hit Buddha's foot. The first Buddhist council was held here in Saptaparni cave and it was during this time that the teachings of Lord Buddha was penned down. The original road to Gridhkuta Peak was built by King Bimbisara to facilitate pilgrim's visit. Today, the hill hums with pilgrims and tourists and beggars too. Pilgrims and tourists alike can take a 2200 feet aerial ropeway to the hill top to see the 160 feet high Vishwa Shanti Stupa that was built behind the Gridhakuta. For us, we took a walk up to Gridhakuta, to the place where Buddha used to deliver his sermons...
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Beggars lining the road up to Gridhakuta or Vulture Peak...