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{{More citations needed|date=September 2018}}
{{More citations needed|date=September 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2018}}
{{Infobox settlement
{{Infobox settlement
| settlement_type = Town
| settlement_type       = Town
| image_skyline          = Giriyak Stupa.jpg
| image_caption          = Giriyak stupa is located in Giriyak [[community development block]] of [[Nalanda district]], [[Patna division]], [[Bihar]], [[India]]
| pushpin_map            = India Bihar#India3
| pushpin_label_position = right
| pushpin_map_caption    = Location in Bihar, India
| coordinates            = {{coord|25|01|40|N|85|31|42|E|display = inline,title}}
| subdivision_type      = Country
| subdivision_name      = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1      = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_name1      = [[Bihar]]
| subdivision_type2      = [[List of districts of India|District]]
| subdivision_name2      = [[Nalanda district|Nalanda]]
| demographics_type1    = Languages
| demographics1_title1  = Official
| demographics1_info1    = [[Hindi language|Hindi]]
| demographics1_title2  = Unofficial
| demographics1_info2    = [[Magahi language|Magahi]]
| timezone1              = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1            = +5:30
| postal_code_type      = [[Postal Index Number|PIN]]
| postal_code            = 803109
| blank1_name_sec1      = Nearest city
| blank1_info_sec1      = [[Rajgir]]
}}
'''Giriyak''' is a village and [[community development block]] located on the bank of the [[Panchane River]] in [[Nalanda district]] of [[Bihar]], [[India]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://nalanda.nic.in/en/blocks-circles/ | title=Blocks & Circles &#124; District Nalanda, Government of Bihar &#124; India }}</ref> It is located about {{convert|15|km|mi|abbr=off}} east of [[Rajgir]], {{convert|26|km|mi|abbr=off}} south of [[Bihar Sharif]], the district headquarters, and {{convert|95|km|mi|abbr=off}} southeast of [[Patna]], the state capital.


| image_skyline    =
[[Giriyak stupa]] — a [[Gupta Empire|Gupta-era]] [[Buddhist architecture|Buddhist]] [[stupa]] — is located on the western side of the Panchane River, opposite the village of Giriyak.<ref name=Cunningham1871>{{cite book|last=Cunningham|first=Alexander|author-link=Alexander Cunningham|title=Four reports made during the years 1862-63-64-65|volume=1|pages=16–20|publisher=[[Archaeological Survey of India]]|location=Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India|year=1871|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.94077/page/n103/mode/2up}}</ref>
| image_caption    = Giriyak Stupa
 
| pushpin_map      = India Bihar#India3
== History ==
| pushpin_label_position  = right
 
| pushpin_map_caption  = Location in Bihar, India
=== Epic and Puranic Era ===
| coordinates      = {{coord|25|01|40|N|85|31|42|E|display = inline,title}}
Giriyak is deeply connected to the ancient region of [[Magadha]]. According to historical geographers and ancient texts, the Giriyak region forms the eastern extremity of the ancient capital of '''Girivraja''' (modern [[Rajgir]]), acting as a natural fortified entrance to the valley.<ref>{{cite book |last=Dey |first=Nundo Lal |title=The Geographical Dictionary of Ancient and Mediaeval India |year=1927 |publisher=Luzac & Co. |location=London |pages=70–71}}</ref>
| subdivision_type = Country
 
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
In the ''Bala Kanda'' (Sarga 32) of the ''[[Ramayana|Valmiki Ramayana]]'', Sage [[Vishwamitra]] narrates the history of this region to [[Rama]] and [[Lakshmana]]. He describes the land as ''Vasumati'', a great city established by King Vasu, which is completely surrounded by five prominent mountains (''Pancha parvata'').<ref>{{cite book |title=The Ramayana of Valmiki: An Epic of Ancient India, Volume I: Balakanda |editor=Robert P. Goldman |publisher=Princeton University Press |year=1984 |isbn=978-0691014852}}</ref> The text mentions a crystal-clear river named ''Sumagadhi'' flowing through these five hills, which historical geographers universally identify with the modern [[Panchane River]] that flows alongside Giriyak today.<ref>{{cite book |last=Law |first=Bimala Churn |title=Historical Geography of Ancient India |year=1954 |publisher=Société Asiatique |location=Paris |pages=255}}</ref>
| subdivision_type1 = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Bihar]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of districts of India|District]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Nalanda district|Nalanda]]
| demographics_type  = [[Language]]
| demographics_info  = [[Magadhi]]
| timezone1  = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = [[Postal Index Number|PIN]]
| postal_code  = 803109
}}


'''Giriyak''' is a town located in [[Nalanda district]] of [[Bihar]], [[India]].
=== Archaeological Significance ===
The area is highly significant in Indian archaeology. The Giriyak Hill, which stands on the western bank of the Panchane River, houses the ruins of an ancient brick [[Stupa]] known as the Giriyak Stupa, built on a cylindrical base. British archaeologist [[Alexander Cunningham]] extensively surveyed the region in the 19th century and identified the Giriyak hill with the ''Indrasala-guha'' (Indrasala Cave) mentioned by the 7th-century Chinese pilgrim [[Xuanzang]] (Hiuen Tsang).<ref>{{cite book |last=Cunningham |first=Alexander |title=Archaeological Survey of India: Four Reports Made During the Years 1862-63-64-65, Volume I |year=1871 |publisher=Government Central Press |location=Simla |pages=16–34}}</ref> Xuanzang recorded a local Buddhist legend of a ''Hamsa'' (goose) stupa at this specific location. Today, the ruins reflect the continuous historical importance of the Rajgir-Giriyak mountainous corridor spanning from the [[Mahabharata]] era through the [[Mauryan empire|Mauryan]] and [[Gupta empire|Gupta]] periods.


==Location==
==Demographics==
Giriyak is located about 100&nbsp;km from [[Patna]], the state capital, and about 21&nbsp;km from [[Bihar Sharif]], the district headquarters. It is only 13&nbsp;km from [[Rajgir]].
At the time of the [[2011 Census of India]], the population Giriyak was 96,845, of which 50,124 are male and 46,721 are female.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.indiagrowing.com/Bihar/Nalanda/Giriak | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140724013634/http://www.indiagrowing.com/Bihar/Nalanda/Giriak | url-status=usurped | archive-date=24 July 2014 | title=Giriak Population (2021/2022), Block Village List in Nalanda, Bihar }}</ref>


==Transportation==
==Transportation==
[[National Highway 20 (India)|NH 31]] passes through the town connecting it with [[Patna]], [[Bihar Sharif]], [[Nawada]] (15&nbsp;km), [[Barhi, Hazaribagh|Barhi]], [[Ranchi]] and [[Bakhtiyarpur]]. State Highway SH 71 connects it with [[Rajgir]], [[Barbigha]] and Islampur. [[Warisaliganj]] is about 15&nbsp;km away.
[[National Highway 20 (India)|NH 20]] passes through the town connecting it with [[Pawapuri]] and [[Bihar Sharif]]. State Highway SH 71 connects it with [[Rajgir]] and [[Barbigha]].
 
==Notable Places==


*'''Giriyak Stupa'''
Giriyak Stupa is an ancient cylindrical shaped stupa located on the top of Chhathagiri hills in Giriyak. The stupa stands 30&nbsp;ft tall and is visible from about 15 km away. There is also remains of a Gupta period  brick temple near it. The remains are from three periods Mauryan ( 3rd to 1sr century BC), Gupta age (4th - 5th century AD) and Pala period (8th - 12th century AD).<ref>{{Cite web|title=Five-year restoration effort bears fruit|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/bihar/five-year-restoration-effort-bears-fruit/cid/1364681|access-date=2021-05-11|website=www.telegraphindia.com}}</ref>
==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


{{Nalanda district}}
{{Nalanda district}}
[[Category:Cities and towns in Nalanda district]]
[[Category:Cities and towns in Nalanda district]]


 
{{Nalanda-geo-stub}}
{{Bihar-geo-stub}}

Latest revision as of 12:37, 28 September 2026

Giriyak
Town
Giriyak stupa is located in Giriyak community development block of Nalanda district, Patna division, Bihar, India
Giriyak stupa is located in Giriyak community development block of Nalanda district, Patna division, Bihar, India
Giriyak is located in Bihar
Giriyak
Location in Bihar, India
Giriyak is located in India
Giriyak
Giriyak (India)
Coordinates: 25°01′40″N 85°31′42″E / 25.02778°N 85.52833°E / 25.02778; 85.52833
Country India
StateBihar
DistrictNalanda
Languages
 • OfficialHindi
 • UnofficialMagahi
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN
803109
Nearest cityRajgir

Giriyak is a village and community development block located on the bank of the Panchane River in Nalanda district of Bihar, India.[1] It is located about 15 kilometres (9.3 miles) east of Rajgir, 26 kilometres (16 miles) south of Bihar Sharif, the district headquarters, and 95 kilometres (59 miles) southeast of Patna, the state capital.

Giriyak stupa — a Gupta-era Buddhist stupa — is located on the western side of the Panchane River, opposite the village of Giriyak.[2]

History[edit | edit source]

Epic and Puranic Era[edit | edit source]

Giriyak is deeply connected to the ancient region of Magadha. According to historical geographers and ancient texts, the Giriyak region forms the eastern extremity of the ancient capital of Girivraja (modern Rajgir), acting as a natural fortified entrance to the valley.[3]

In the Bala Kanda (Sarga 32) of the Valmiki Ramayana, Sage Vishwamitra narrates the history of this region to Rama and Lakshmana. He describes the land as Vasumati, a great city established by King Vasu, which is completely surrounded by five prominent mountains (Pancha parvata).[4] The text mentions a crystal-clear river named Sumagadhi flowing through these five hills, which historical geographers universally identify with the modern Panchane River that flows alongside Giriyak today.[5]

Archaeological Significance[edit | edit source]

The area is highly significant in Indian archaeology. The Giriyak Hill, which stands on the western bank of the Panchane River, houses the ruins of an ancient brick Stupa known as the Giriyak Stupa, built on a cylindrical base. British archaeologist Alexander Cunningham extensively surveyed the region in the 19th century and identified the Giriyak hill with the Indrasala-guha (Indrasala Cave) mentioned by the 7th-century Chinese pilgrim Xuanzang (Hiuen Tsang).[6] Xuanzang recorded a local Buddhist legend of a Hamsa (goose) stupa at this specific location. Today, the ruins reflect the continuous historical importance of the Rajgir-Giriyak mountainous corridor spanning from the Mahabharata era through the Mauryan and Gupta periods.

Demographics[edit | edit source]

At the time of the 2011 Census of India, the population Giriyak was 96,845, of which 50,124 are male and 46,721 are female.[7]

Transportation[edit | edit source]

NH 20 passes through the town connecting it with Pawapuri and Bihar Sharif. State Highway SH 71 connects it with Rajgir and Barbigha.

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ "Blocks & Circles | District Nalanda, Government of Bihar | India".
  2. ↑ Cunningham, Alexander (1871). Four reports made during the years 1862-63-64-65. Vol. 1. Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India: Archaeological Survey of India. pp. 16–20.
  3. ↑ Dey, Nundo Lal (1927). The Geographical Dictionary of Ancient and Mediaeval India. London: Luzac & Co. pp. 70–71.
  4. ↑ Robert P. Goldman, ed. (1984). The Ramayana of Valmiki: An Epic of Ancient India, Volume I: Balakanda. Princeton University Press. ISBN 978-0691014852.
  5. ↑ Law, Bimala Churn (1954). Historical Geography of Ancient India. Paris: Société Asiatique. p. 255.
  6. ↑ Cunningham, Alexander (1871). Archaeological Survey of India: Four Reports Made During the Years 1862-63-64-65, Volume I. Simla: Government Central Press. pp. 16–34.
  7. ↑ "Giriak Population (2021/2022), Block Village List in Nalanda, Bihar". Archived from the original on 24 July 2014.
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