PAST RELIC: The ruins of Nalanda University

IF you dream of replicating the Midas touch, travel to the ancient city of Rajgir in Bihar, enter the Swarna Gufa and decipher the inscription engraved there. The doors to the golden vaults will open if you can do it. But even if you can't, you'd still find yourself richer as Rajgir is a confluence of mythology, religions, history and culture.

It was here that Lord Buddha held his first council to formulate the Buddhist doctrine. The ruins of Nalanda University, the centre of intellectual activity for 700 years from the 5th century, lie here. The wall of the sixth century Ajatshatru Fort, where legend goes he committed patricide, remains well preserved. A recent memorial-built in the 1970s in memory of the victims of Hiroshima and Nagasaki-stands as a testimony to world peace.

With hot sulphur springs; a peace pagoda; and a watchtower sculpted by nature, Rajgir is the stuff legends are made of.

Patna is the nearest airport (107 km), and Bakhtiyarpur, the closest railhead. Well connected by road too.

HOT DEALS
Tiger Trail
Enjoy seven days (November 13-19) in the midst of springs, lakes and pre-historic caves of Amarkantak; and misty deciduous forests of Bandhavgarh. Cost: Rs 8,500 per person. Last date for registration is October 12. Contact The Explorers on (022) 200 4774/ 4775 or log on to www.ExplorersIndia.com. E-mail: info@explorersindia.com.

Sunny Ways
Three days of sun, sand and splendour are beckoning tourists to Port Blair, the capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The package is valid from October 1 to December 20. Cost: Rs 6,980 per person on twin-sharing basis (excluding travel fare). For details, call (011) 681 9679 or log on to www.makemytrip.com.

TOURISM NEWS
Way To Go
Wings of Freedom, the newest offering from Indian Airlines (IA), brings unlimited air travel on IA/Alliance Air domestic net-work for a period of seven days at Rs 15,000 (Economy class; Rs 20,000 for Executive class). There are over 50 Indian destinations to choose from. Valid till March 31 next year. Details on www.indian-airlines.com.

Grand Fare
Tourism & Trade Mart: 2002, Bihar Tourism's first mega mela in Patna, will showcase the range of products and services available in the tourism, hospitality and entertainment industry of the state. The 22-day mart (September 17 onwards) will also have fashion, flower and cultural shows.

OFF THE BEATEN TRACK

Lahaul, Himachal Pradesh: Tucked away in the far northern corner of Himachal Pradesh, the Lahaul Valley manifests nature's dichotomy: it is at once forbidding and irresistibly beautiful. Lying between the green pastures of Kullu and the alpine desert of Ladakh, Lahaul is marked with glaciers, barren mountains and the idyllic Chandratal Lake at 15,000 ft. With its harsh terrain and mountains, the Valley makes for some memorable treks. Batal is a good point to begin a trek to Baralacha La (16,400 ft), the pass that connects Lahaul to Ladakh. Koksar (11,000 ft), 21 km from the Rohtang Pass, is the coldest place here. In fact, Lahaul remains inaccessible for a major part of the year. But when it throws its doors open to tourists-July to October-it reveals its spectacular ethereal beauty. Lahaul's capital, Keylong, is connected by a seven-hour bus ride to Manali. Foreigners require permits.

-Compiled by Shilpa Rohatgi and Farzand Ahmed