RAJGIR HILLS, a range of hills in British India, in the south of the Patna district of Behar and Orissa. They form part of a range, extending N.E. from near Bodh-Gaya for 40. miles, and at one place rise to 1,472 ft., but elsewhere seldom exceed 1,000 ft. in height. The hills in Patna district consist of two parallel ridges. In the valley between, south of the village of Rajgir, was built the old city of Rajagriha, "the royal residence." Legend ascribes it to Jarasandha, king of Magadha (south Behar), who had his capital at Giribraja, "the city of hills." The outer fortifications can be traced on the crests of the hills over a dis tance of more than 25 miles; they are 171 ft. thick, built of massive undressed stones without mortar. According to Sir John Marshall, we can assign these ruins only to "some uncertain age before the dawn of history and rank them, as their stupen dousness entitles them to be ranked, among the greatest wonders which primeval man has bequeathed to us." The remains of New Rajagriha, the reputed capital of Bimbisara (c. 520-490 B.c.), lie two-thirds of a mile N. of the valley.
The Rajgir hills are associated with the life of Buddha, who often taught here. Chhatagiri is the old Gridhrakuta, or vulture's
peak, which was one of his favourite resorts. One of the towers on the Baibhar hill (Vaibhargiri) has been identified as the Pipara stone house in which Buddha lived. The Sattapanni, the cave in which after his death the council of his disciples was held to record the tenets of the faith, has been identified with different sites on this hill and with the Soubhandar cave at its foot : the latter is now believed to have been excavated by Jains in the 3rd or 4th century A.D. A brick mound, topped by a Jain shrine, stands in the centre of the valley. Rajgir is a place of pilgrimage.
There are modern Jain temples built on the hills round the valley. There are also hot springs in the valleys surrounded by Hindu shrines.
See M. A. Stein, "Notes on an Archaeological Tour in South Bihar and Hazaribagh," Indian Antiquary, 1901; Sir J. Marshall, "Rajagriha and its Remains," Report Arch. Surv. India, V. H. Jackson, "Notes on old Rajagriha," Report Arch. Surv. India, 1913-14; District Gazetteer of Patna (Patna, 1924)•