“I cannot live without Prince and it appears that Prince also cannot live without me. We love each other like brother and sister,” Nik told IANS.

She adopted the dog and kept it at the Buddhist monastery here she helps run. She went back to Thailand a month ago. But soon Prince fell ill. His misery pulled Nik back – she returned Saturday.

“Last week, when I was informed that Prince was ill, I decided to visit Bodh Gaya for its treatment,” she said.

She now plans to return to Thailand along with Prince on May 9.

“I had approached the local authorities for the documents required to take Prince to Thailand,” she said.

Her bond with Prince is four months old.

“During my visit to the Vajra Bodhi Society here in early January, I was attracted to this dog after he behaved like a friend. It was a different experience. I then decided to adopt and look after him,” she said.

“After Prince was brought to the monastery, his love for me was unbelievable!” she said.

However, as soon as she left, Prince became upset, she said. “Despite good food and medical treatment, he was not doing well,” she said.

Bhante Manoj of the Bodh Gaya Mahabodhi Temple Management Committee said Prince fell ill soon after Nik left for Thailand. “It is a unique case of love between a human being and an animal,” he said.

He said the news of Nik’s return to Bodh Gaya for the sake of Prince has become a hot topic among local residents.

Over three dozen tourists were injured by wasps in the last three days near Bodh Gaya.

“Most of the victims of wasp attacks are Buddhist pilgrims from Sri Lanka and Combodia. They were injured when wasps attacked them on way to Gurupadgiri hill to perform worship,” said an official of the Bodh Gaya temple.

A Bihar tourism department official said: “We have appealed to tourists not to fear wasp attacks in Bodh Gaya. It is a safe place.”

Preeti Singh, the chairperson of the Bodhgaya Nagar Panchayat, said: “The objective behind installing the solar streetlights is to save power and ensure uninterrupted lighting arrangement in the heritage city.”

The cost of  installting 470 solar lights is expected to be around Rs 5.3 crores and is getting financial support from UK-based Department for International Development

The eight stretches identified for the project are from the Bodhgaya Nagar Panchayat office to Surajpura (50 lights) and Tika Bigha (30), Sujata Bypass to old block office (90), Bhagalpur Road (100), Root Institute to Mor (17), Daheriya Bigha to Tekuna Mor (100), Ningma monastery to Rampur (33) and Hotel Embassy to Miyan Bigha (50).

Electric poles with an underground cable network will be laid every 30m on the identified roads.

At least 83 mini high- mast lights would also be installed in the Bodhgaya Nagar Panchayat area, including the periphery of Kalchakra Ground and primary health centres.

Government is also spending over Rs 100 crores for the setting up of 75 Bed Hospitals in 21 subdivisions of the state, of which hospitals had been constructed in 13 subdivisions.

The construction of hospital building has been completed in ten districts – Buxar, Kaimur, Banka, Kishanganj, Jamui, Sheikhpura, Supaul, Araria, Lakhisarai and Khagaria. In Khagaria, a new 100-bed hospital has already been inaugurated.

Health minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey recently said that it had been decided in 2010-11 to upgrade 15 referral hospitals into subdivisional hospitals, of which 10 hospitals in Kaimur, Munger, Saran, Katihar, East Champaran, Nalanda, Gaya, Purnia and Madhepura districts had already been completed.

“The Centre’s decision to open CUB at Gaya is an assault on the feelings of the people of Bihar. If you want state government’s cooperation, the CUB should be established at Motihari, from where Mahatma Gandhi started his ‘Satyagraha’. The state government will provide land for the purpose at Motihari free of cost,” Nitish wrote to Sibal in his three-page letter to him.

He reminded Sibal that the Centre had agreed in principle for opening CUB at Motihari but now, he said, it appears that due to some prejudice the Centre is thinking to open it at either Patna, Bihta or Gaya. A committee comprising the representatives of Centre and Bihar was constituted to select the site for the university. “It appears from your letter that the committee has inspected a site at Gaya and sent its report, but I have to say that the representatives of Bihar had no say in this affair. This is the Centre’s unilateral decision,” the CM said.

Nitish pointed out that the state’s biggest university, Magadh University, is based in Gaya; hence there is no logic to establish CUB there. After the Centre’s nod, he said, three alternative sites were selected in Motihari. “Today the establishment of CUB at Motihari has become a dream for the people of Bihar. The state government is committed to fulfil this dream and the required land will be made available free of cost,” he asserted.

A ‘tussle’ over the site of the CUB has been going on between the Union HRD ministry and state government for about three years. The state government has been insisting on Motihari saying the establishment of CUB would be a tribute to Mahatma, but the Centre remains reluctant pointing out lack of infrastructure and other facilities needed for the CUB and its faculty. On the contrary, the CM made it a point that CUB would be set up at Motihari and nowhere else.

Nitish further pointed out to Sibal that some central universities have been established in the interiors of Kerala, Odisha, Punjab. Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu. “Some of these places are less developed and have little infrastructure and connectivity than Motihari,” he said

It is currently running with a temporary campus at BIT Patna. Recently it encountered conflicts with BIT Patna when the latter sent an eviction notice to Central University of Bihar.

The state government has been insisting that the University come up in Motihari, which did not fulfil the criteria laid down by the Ministry of Human Resources Development.

It was being said that BIT-Patna is being “pressurized” by Nitish Kumar-led State government to make it difficult for the University to continue. While Nitish Governemnt wanted the University to be setup at Motihari, the Central Government wanted it to be somewhere near the state Capital.

Patna 
Kamaldah (Patna City) : In the area called Kamaldah (Gulzarbagh, Patna) is a high mound of brick ruins on which two Jain temples stand. There is mausoleum of Jain saint Sthoolhdbhadra and the temple of Sudarshan Swami.

Muzaffarpur 
Kund Gram : As per Jain tradition Lord Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankar, was born at Kundagrama and Vaniyagrama was his residence. Both the places was either part of or near to Vaishali. While the modern village of Bania can be taken as representing the site of ancient Vaniagrama. The location of Kundagrama is identified with the modern village of Vasokund, about 2 kms northeast of the gadh mound.

Nalanda 
Kundalpur : A beautiful Jaisalmer stone temple is situated close to the ruins of ancient Nalanda University at Kundalpur. This houses statues of Lord Mahavira, Adinath Swami and Gautam Gandharva. This place is believed to be the birthplace of Gautam Gandharva, the first disciple of Lord Mahavira. An ancient Jain temple could also be here.

Jalmandir : Pawapuri,which is also known as Apapapuri, the sinless town, is a very sacred Jain pilgrimage. As per Jain Mythology and belief, Lord Mahavira, the greatest propounder of Jainism, attained Nirvana at Pawapuri. Hundred of thousands of his disciples and devotees took away the ashes after his cremation here. The rush was so great that even the soils of the area were taken away and it became a tank. Later on, a beautiful temple of white marble was constructed in the center of the tank to commemorate the Lord’s Nirvana. This temple is known as the Jalmandir.

Samosaran  : A beautiful temple honor the place where Lord Mahavira sat to teach his disciples. The temple is constructed of white marble, rising by low steps into several concentric terraces with a beehive shaped shrine on the top containing the footprints of Lord Mahavira.

Maniyar Math  : This monument occupies a prominent position inside the valley, situated on the way to the Son Bhandar Caves, almost in the center of the ancient inner city enclosure. Legend is that Srenika or Bimbisara had 32 wives to each of which he daily gave new ornaments, and threw the old ones into a well, which is still shown. This covers a modern small Jain temple as well.

Sone Bhandar : There are two rock-cut caves, adjacent to each other, excavated on the southern face of the Vaibhara hill, facing the western portion of the valley. Of them the western one is locally called as Son-Bhandar (Gold Treasury). As per Local belief, the piece of rock within this space is an ancient wedge blocking up the passage to the treasury of gold in the body of the hill. It consists of a rock-cut chamber and its front part has been fallen. Inside the southern wall of the cave there are six small figures of Jaina Tirthankaras carved in relief and representing Padmaprabha, Parshvanatha and Mahavira.

Nawada 
Gonava Jee : Gonava village is situated at around one kilometer north of Nawada on Patna-Ranchi road. This is a pilgrimage site for the Jains of both sects. The Digambar Jain temple is just by the side of main road while the Shwetambar Jain temple is behind it. . The temple is famous and known as place of Nirvana of Lord Mahavira’s 1st disciple, Gautam Gandharva.

Bhojpur 
Bisram : This place is in town called “Arrah” where there are another 45 Jain temples. Lord Mahavira, the 24th Jain Tirthankara, took rest here for some time during his wanderings, hence this place is called Bisram (rest). Jains from every part of the country visit Bisram throughout the year. There is a Jain temple here containing an idol of Lord Mahavira.

Masadh : This village is located at around 9-kms southwest of “Arrah” town. An ancient Jain temple dedicated to Parshwanath is situated here and contains eight images, some of them dates back to ancient time. The temple was completed in the year 1819 A.D. while some of the eight images date back to 1386 A.D. as per archaeological records.

Banka 
Mandar Hill : It is about around 48-kms south of the Bhagalpur town. The hill is about 700-ft high that consists of a huge mass of granite overgrown near the summit with low jungle. This hill is believed to be extremely sacred as per the Hindu mythology. The Skand Purana associates Mandar or Sumeru with the famous epic or Puranic story of the Amrita-Manthana or the churning of the ocean. The story goes that the Gods and the Demons (Devas and Asuras) with a view to secure amrita (the divine liquor), which is believed to confer immortality, used this Mandara or Sumeru Mountain as the churning stick or rod. The great mythical serpent, Vasuki, was used as the rope. Due to this mythical association, the hill had assumed considerable religious significance and had been a place of pilgrimage ever since. Two Jain temples are situated on the summit of the hill. Large number of Jain pilgrims comes here to worship Lord Vasupujyanatha.

Bhagalpur 
Champanagar : A western suburb of the Bhagalpur town is at present known as Champanagar. In the Kalpa-Sutra this is mentioned as one of the places where the last Tirthankara Mahavira stayed for three rainy seasons in the course of his religious wanderings. According to the prevalent Jain tradition it is believed that Jain Tirthankara Vasupujya was born at Champanagar or Champapuri. There are two Jain temples of considerable size, both entirely built at the expense of the family of Jagat Seth, a supporter. At the nearby hamlet of Kabirpur there is another Jain temple with the footprints or padukas (footwear) of the 24 Jain Tirthankaras with an inscription dated V.S. 1694 or 1637 A.D.

Jamui

Lachhaur : This is one of jain pilgrimage sites, situated about 8-kms west of Simaria and 7-kms south of Sikandra. It has s a large number of Jain temples and dharmshala built in 1874 by Rai Dhanpat Singh Bahadur of Murshidabad, for the benefit of Jain pilgrims, who visit some places in the adjacent hills. The nearest are about 5-kms of Lachhaur and are marked Muth Boodhroop and Muth Purusnath. These are two small shrines picturesquely situated in the valley between two parallel ranges of hills. In each of these shrines one can find a small statue of Mahavira, one of them dates back to Sambat 1505, and the other appears to be the older one. The temples themselves, however, are of recent date. Some Jains hold Lachhaur to be the birthplace of Mahavir Swami.

Kundghat : It is around 6-kms from Lachhaur. There is a temple of Kundeshwari Devi, which is considered sacred by the Jains

Dalai Lama released a book ‘Divine Religion’ authored by Hollywood actor Richard Gere and was honoured by the chairman of Kalchakra puja committee Rama Khandu.It also featured shows of numerous Tibetan traditional dances, music, and songs.

Many big names were present on the concluding day including Dalai Lama, Hollywood Actor Richard Gere, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar and Arunachal Pradesh CM Nabam Tuki.

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar was also present at the concluding day of the Kalchakra. He requested Dalai Lama to organise a world-level religious programme on Kalchakra initiations in Bihar.

It was sponsored by Pema Khandu, Minister WRD and Tourism for Arunachal Pradesh and son of Late Arunachal CM Dorge Khandu. “It was the wish and promise of our late father Dorje Khandu to sponsor the 32nd Kalachakra and we are very happy that we could fulfill his wish and promise,” Pema Khandu said.

The foremost Hollywood’s star Gere has arrived in Bodh Gaya for the fourth time. Earlier, Gere was here in 1993, 2001, and 2010. He had earlier participated in the Candle light procession organised by Tibettan for Vegetarian Society. He is also a keen supporter of the cause of Declaring Bodh Gaya as Non-Violent region.

Richard Gere, aged 62,  is an American actor. He began acting in the 1970s, playing a supporting roles. He went on to  star in several hit films including An Officer and a Gentleman, Pretty Woman, Primal Fear, and Chicago, for which he won a Golden Globe Award as Best Actor, as well as a Screen Actors Guild Award as part of the Best Cast.

His interest in Buddhism began when he traveled to Nepal in 1978 with the Brazilian painter, Sylvia Martins.  He is a practicing Buddhist and an active supporter of the Dalai Lama. He also campaigns for ecological causes and AIDS awareness.

Khanna told that Bodhgaya is not only known for World Heritage. It is world-renowned for spirituality. He said that we Indians are getting away from our culture. So I want to make a bridge between modern and traditional culture.
He also plans to open a restaurant in Bodh Gaya. He insists that due to its cultural linkages, I plan to open restaurant in Bodhgaya in place of big cities like London and Paris, where opening such a restaurant is easy.

About Vikas Khanna
Vikas Khanna is an award winning Michelin Starred Indian chef, restaurateur, food writer, filmmaker, humanitarian and the host of the TV Show MasterChef India He is based in New York City. In 2011, People magazine named Khanna in the list of Sexiest Man Alive.