Banner collage: the Taj Mahal, the Great Buddha statue at Bodh Gaya and a crowd of young people with raised hands

Bihar, India

Today Bihar, India is a modest state, the twelfth largest in square mileage, though the third largest in numbers. For years, the state government did not invest much in the region, resulting in a faltering economy that fell behind compared to the rest of India. Recently, government policies have improved and tourists have increased in numbers to about 346,000. Thousands of years ago, however, the region was the birthplace of some of the most powerful empires in India.

Empires born in Bihar

In 325 BC the Mauryan Empire rose under the direction of Chandragupta Maurya who was born in the region of what is now Bihar. Lasting for about two hundred years, this empire had an area of about 5,000,000 square km and was one of the largest in the world at the time, certainly the largest the Indian subcontinent had ever seen. The territory stretched from what is now Afghanistan to the Himalayas. Chandragupta’s grandson, Ashoka came to power in 273 B.C., and led the empire into a period of peace.

Following a particularly brutal war, Ashoka found himself repentant for what he had done and what had happened under his control. He subsequently embraced Buddhism and banned various forms of violence throughout the kingdom, including a ban on hunting as well as indentured and force labour. He did maintain an army for order, but also extended a friendly hand to neighbouring empires. For over forty years the people lived in peace and prosperity, and is still and important figure in Indian minds and culture.

Several hundred years later, the region also saw the birth of the Gupta Empire, which lasted from CE 320 to CE 600s. Under this empire, India entered its ‘Golden Age’, when science and culture flourished. The Guptas managed to maintain control over the region through their expertise with weapons such as the long bow, use of steel weapons, and maintenance of a navy and well disciplined army.

Today rising numbers of tourists and a slowly improving economy show great promise for the state of Bahir. The area that was once the birthplace of two of the greatest Indian empires is beginning to show signs of its formal glory. Modern economists have rated it the ‘least corrupt state’ of India in 2011, and it is showing remarkable signs of improvement for judicial reforms and public safety. The future is looking very bright for this former cultural center.

News in India

The Taj Mahal, which brings millions of visitors to India each year, is about to get a makeover. Its features have been limited for years, but the new changes will be a breath of fresh air for tourists. Since the structure is truly beautiful to see after dark, one upcoming change will be night viewing hours. However, viewing will only be permitted from a safe distance. In addition to evening viewing hours, the proposed project will include a boating facility on the River Yamuna and a cycling track spanning a distance of eight kilometres around the Taj Mahal. Suggestions have also been made to add more greenery, nature trails and bird habitats to enhance the aesthetic appearance of the surrounding area. All of these changes are part of a large-scale attempt to boost Agra’s tourism.

Tourism rates were rising consistently before 2007 in Uttar Pradesh. The Taj Mahal itself still brings over 2.5 million visitors each year, but the annual totals have not been rising as much since then. In recent years, several other changes have been made to bring more tourists. After noticing that up to 25 people per day had to be turned away because the building was not accessible to handicapped tourists, the government decided to make some changes in 2008. Various ramps were added to allow visitors to enter the monument. Most tourists bring their own motorised wheelchairs, but the Taj Mahal has several traditional wheelchairs available for the public to use. Although this change did bring more visitors, many people still do not know that the structure is accessible to all.

Whether tourists have seen the Taj Mahal before or still have not experienced its beauty, these new changes make it an accessible and ideal destination for anyone. With the upcoming night viewing hours, visitors who have been limited to enjoy its beauty during day hours can now see how magnificent it looks under the moonlight. For those who are not familiar with the Taj Mahal, it is one of the largest and most ornate mausoleums ever built. It was constructed in 1632 as a monument to Emperor Shah Jahan’s wife. An old myth suggests that beating on the finial’s shadow will bring water. This has not been proven, but it is still possible to find broken bangles there. With its many other myths and mysteries, the Taj Mahal is still the most intriguing attraction in India.

Contact us

Email admin@bsic.co.in