Nalanda University, established in the fifth century CE, is in the ancient kingdom of Magadha (modern-day Bihar). It was located near Rajagriha city (present-day Patna).
Nalanda University is considered the world's first residential university where scholars come from all over the world. The university received international acclaim and thrived under the patronage of the Pala dynasty during the 8th and 9th centuries.
Subjects taught at Nalanda University were medicine, Ayurveda, Buddhism, mathematics, grammar, astronomy, and Indian philosophy.
The impact of Nalanda University can be significantly seen in its contribution to mathematics and astronomy. Indian mathematician and the inventor of Zero, Aryabhata, was one of the esteemed educators at Nalanda University during the 6th century CE.
The library of Nalanda Univeristy, "Dharma Gunj", and "Mountain o Truth", had over nine million books, including some of the most sacred manuscripts, stored in a nine-storey building, Ratnodadhi.
It was the world's first residential university accommodating over 10,000 students and over 2000 teachers. It was also a major centre for Buddhist studies.
The idea to revive Nalanda University was proposed by former president APJ Abdul Kalam in 2006. Nalanda University reopened in 2014, after nearly 800 years, marking a significant milestone in the history of the world's oldest centres of learning.
The new campus signifies the revival of the world's oldest universities, blending ancient wisdom with contemporary knowledge.