Venu Vana

Venu Vana, or the 'Bamboo Grove', is a tranquil park in Rajgir traditionally identified as the site of a bamboo forest gifted to the Buddha by King Bimbisara of Magadha, making it one of the earliest known monastic retreats associated directly with the Buddha's own life and teaching. A small lake within the grove, said to be where the Buddha bathed, adds to the site's quiet devotional atmosphere.

Compact and easy to walk through in well under an hour, Venu Vana offers a gentler, more contemplative counterpoint to Rajgir's larger archaeological sites and hilltop stupas, and is often visited as one stop among several on a single day exploring the town's Buddhist heritage.

According to Buddhist tradition, King Bimbisara gifted this bamboo grove to the Buddha and his monastic community shortly after the Buddha's enlightenment, making it one of the very first dedicated monastic dwelling places (viharas) in Buddhist history.

In central Rajgir, an easy walk from most accommodation in the town.