Hiuen Tsang Memorial Hall, Nalanda - Timings, History, Best Time to Visit

At a distance of 2 km from Nalanda University Ruins, and 5 km from Nalanda Railway Station, Hiuen Tsang Memorial Hall is a historical monument situated in Nalanda, Bihar. Situated on the banks of Surajpur Lake, it is one of the most attractive tourist places in Nalanda.

The construction of the Hiuen Tsang Memorial Hall was started in 1957 by Pt Jawahar Lal Nehru and was completed in 1984. The memorial was built in the memory of Hiuen Tsang, a popular Chinese traveler who had come to study Buddhism and mysticism at the Nalanda University in 633 AD and stayed here for 12 years. Tsang traveled around the country and also visited Takshila for further studies on Buddhism. The memorial was built at the very place where he used to learn yoga from his teacher Acharya Shil Bhadra.

Hiuen Tsang Memorial Hall is a distinct reminder of the architectural style of the Nalanda University. Built-in typical Chinese style, the memorial is an awesome place to understand the life and times of the Chinese traveler. There is a special section dedicated to Hiuen Tsang that displays the items collected by him. The exhibits include the sandalwood and golden idols of Buddha and his compositions containing the information about Buddhism in China & India. The hall inside contains several paintings and episodes from the travels of the Chinese students.

Timings: 9 AM - 5 PM, Closed on Fridays

Entry Fee: Rs.20 for Person