Patna: Rajgir has emerged as Bihar’s most visited destination for foreign tourists in the first half of 2025, overtaking long-time leader Bodhgaya. The historic town, known for attractions such as the Jungle Safari, Glass Bridge, and Vishwa Shanti Stupa, drew 70,499 overseas visitors between January and June, according to Tourism Department data.
Traditionally, Bodhgaya and Gaya have led in foreign tourist arrivals. This year, Bodhgaya slipped to second place with 58,959 visitors, followed by Nalanda with 55,113, Gaya with 51,940, Vaishali with over 39,000, and Patna with 15,607.
In contrast, the state capital continues to lead in domestic tourism, attracting over 6.4 million Indian visitors in the same period. Rajgir ranked second with more than 1.2 million domestic tourists, while Bodhgaya recorded over 1.1 million.
Bihar welcomed a total of 23.7 million tourists — including over 3 million foreign visitors — in the first half of the year. The Bihar Day celebrations at Gandhi Maidan in March alone drew 57,000 tourists. While the first quarter saw more than 250,000 foreign arrivals, the summer heat led to a dip in numbers from April onwards.
The state government attributes Rajgir’s rising popularity to its new tourism infrastructure, including the Jungle Safari, Nature Safari, and Glass Bridge, alongside its ropeway, hot springs, and Buddhist heritage sites. Visitors are increasingly spending two to three days in the city, enjoying both its historic landmarks and natural scenery.
Last year, Bihar recorded 736,000 foreign tourist arrivals, with Bodhgaya topping the list at 112,000, followed by Rajgir (99,000), Gaya (97,000), and Nalanda (73,000). In 2023, Gaya had been the leader with 96,000 foreign visitors.
