The Ancient Geography of India. I. The Buddhist Period, including the Campaigns of Alexander, and the Travels of Hwen-Thsang c6.s3.t37.9

c6.s3.t37.9

To the north-east of the isolated mountain of Giryek the Chinese pilgrim travelled from 150 to 160 li, or from 25 to 27 miles, to the Kapotika, or “Pigeon Monastery.” Half a mile to the south there was a high solitary hill, on which stood a large Vihára of Avalokiteswara, surrounded by a multitude of sculptured buildings. This place I would identify with Bihár, 11 miles to the north-north-east of Giryek, by reading 60 *li*, or 10 miles, instead of the 160 *li* of the text.* In our maps the name is spelt *Behar*, but by the people it is written and pronounced *Bihâr*, which is sufficient to show that it must once have been the site of some famous Buddhist *Vihâr*. For this reason I am strongly inclined to identify the great *Vihâra* of Avalokiteswara, which stood on the top of a hill, with the present *Bihâr*, and its great isolated mountain covered with ruins. The hill stands to the north-west of the city of Bihâr, with a precipitously steep cliff on its northern face, and an easy slope of successive ledges of rock on the southern face. The summit is now crowned by some Muhammadan buildings; but I discovered amongst the ruins some fragments of Buddhist statues and votive stupas.