Long before modern universities dotted the globe, an extraordinary learning center thrived in the heart of ancient India— Nalanda University . Celebrated as one of the world’s earliest residential universities, Nalanda stood as a beacon of intellectual exploration, spiritual wisdom, and international academic exchange. Foundations of a Global Learning Hub Established in the 5th century CE during the rule of the Gupta Empire, Nalanda rose to prominence under Emperor Kumaragupta I. Nestled in present-day Bihar, the university quickly attracted attention far beyond India’s borders. Monks, scholars, and students from China, Korea, Tibet, Sri Lanka, and Central Asia journeyed here in search of knowledge and enlightenment. Though it emerged as a stronghold of Buddhist philosophy, Nalanda’s curriculum extended far and wide—covering logic, astronomy, medicine, literature, grammar, mathematics, and more. Learning here was immersive and rigorous, and admission was granted only to those...
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