RAJGIR has been declared Polythene free zone !!

On Dec 2nd 2013, Rajgir is the first Buddhist historical city in India which has been declared a polythene free zone.

Rajgir, nearly 100 km from Patna, is in Nalanda district. It is the second most visited tourist place in the Buddhist circuit in the state after Bodh Gaya, considered the birthplace of Buddhism where Gautam Buddha attained enlightenment over 2,500 years ago.

      The ruins of the ancient Nalanda Universities, considered one of the world's first residential universities, are situated near Rajgir.

"After Rajgir was declared a polythene-free zone, all hotels, dharamshalas, shops and street vendors have been ordered to stop using polybags of more than 40 micron thickness, The violators will be punished and fined", a district official said.

    "The violators will be fined Rs 100 to Rs 500" , he added.

According to an official in Rajgir, a number of tourists ad residents have complained about the excessive littering of polybags, including the popular hot springs, the Vishwa Shanti Stupa and other places associated with Buddhism.

Thousands of tourists, particularly those from countries with a sizable Buddhist population visit Rajgir's Shanti Stupa on the Ratnagiri Hill, the Cyclopean wall over a hill and other destinations connected with Buddhism.