Buddhist Circuit & Archaeological Landscapes of Bihar

Where the Buddha Walked,
Scholars Follow

A scholarly initiative exploring the archaeological and sacred landscapes of the Middle Ganga Valley and the Himalayan foothills. From the Mahabodhi Temple to the ancient monastic university of Nalanda — led by an archaeologist with 25 years in the field.

Start a Conversation
From the Field — Scholarly Expeditions in Action
Dr. Sharma
25+
Years in the Field
About Dr. Shanker Sharma

Archaeologist, Academic,
Field Companion

Dr. Shanker Sharma is an archaeologist and academic with nearly twenty-five years of professional experience in field archaeology, heritage management, and museum administration. He currently serves as Assistant Professor in the P.G. Department of Ancient Indian & Asian Studies at Magadh University, Bodh Gaya, Bihar.

2024 –
Assistant Professor
P.G. Dept. of Ancient Indian & Asian Studies, Magadh University, Bodh Gaya
2018 – 2024
Asst. Superintending Archaeologist
Nalanda Museum, Archaeological Survey of India
2017 – 2018
Research Officer
National Museum, New Delhi
2003 – 2017
Assistant Archaeologist
Archaeological Survey of India
PG Diploma in Archaeology, Institute of Archaeology, ASI, New Delhi
M.A., Ancient Indian History, Culture & Archaeology — Patna University
PhD Scholar, Nava Nalanda Mahavihara, Nalanda
Field Circuits

Archaeological Landscapes of Bihar & Beyond

The Middle Ganga Valley — particularly the historic region of Magadh and northern Bihar — preserves archaeological remains associated with early urbanization, the rise of Buddhism and Jainism, Mauryan imperial architecture, monastic universities, and long-distance trade routes.

01
Magadh Region — Core Buddhist Landscape
The heartland of Buddhism — from the Mahabodhi Temple through ancient Rajgriha, the monastic ruins of Nalanda, the Mauryan capital at Pataliputra, and the earliest rock-cut caves at Barabar and Nagarjuni.
Mahabodhi Temple
Sujata Stupa
Dungeshwari Caves
Rajgir
Gridhrakuta Hill
Saptaparni Caves
Cyclopean Wall
Veluvana
Son Bhandar Caves
Nalanda Mahavihara
Kumrahar
Barabar Caves
Nagarjuni Caves
02
Northern Bihar — Vaishali & Ashokan Sites
Early historic and Buddhist sites of northern Bihar — Vaishali, the great stupa at Kesariya, Ashokan pillars at Lauriya Areraj, Lauriya Nandangarh, and the twin pillars at Rampurva.
Vaishali
Kolhua Ashokan Pillar
Kesariya Stupa
Lauriya Nandangarh
Rampurva Pillars
Chirand
Chechar
Sagardih
03
Eastern Bihar — Vikramshila & Beyond
Major sites of eastern Bihar including the monastic university at Vikramshila, early historic fort ruins, rock-cut sculptures at Pattharghatta, and stupa mounds across the Champa region.
Vikramshila Mahavihara
Jaimanglagarh
Naulagarh
Pattharghatta
Kahalgaon
Champa
04
Sacred Buddhist Circuit — Extended Field Study
The complete pilgrimage and archaeological circuit spanning Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Nepal — tracing the Buddha's life from Lumbini through Bodh Gaya, Sarnath, and Kushinagar.
Lumbini
Bodh Gaya
Sarnath
Kushinagar
Shravasti
Sankisa
Piprahwa
Rajgir
Nalanda
Vaishali
Kesariya
05
Ashokan Pillars & Inscription Sites
A dedicated epigraphic circuit covering major Ashokan pillar sites and rock edict locations — from Vaishali through Sarnath, Kausambi, and Delhi-Topra.
Vaishali Pillar
Sarnath Pillar
Lumbini Pillar
Kausambi Pillar
Delhi-Topra Pillar
Sasaram Edict
Basahan Edict
Ahraura Edict
06
Ancient Monastic Universities
A focused study of the great Buddhist monastic learning centres that shaped intellectual history across Asia — examining architectural remains, spatial organisation, and scholarly traditions.
Nalanda Mahavihara
Vikramshila Mahavihara
Odantapuri
Telhara
How It Works

Every Expedition Begins
with a Conversation

There are no fixed dates, no standard itineraries, no packaged tours. Every expedition is shaped entirely through dialogue — your research interests, your timeline, your scholarly objectives.

01

Reach Out

Write to me about your research interests, the sites or circuits you wish to explore, and the nature of your scholarly work.

02

We Discuss

I understand your academic background, preferred circuits, group size, and objectives. Together we shape an itinerary that serves your research.

03

We Finalise

Dates, duration, logistics, and focus areas — all decided through our correspondence. Nothing standardised. Everything built around you.

04

We Walk

We explore the sites together. On-ground archaeological insights, scholarly discussions, and the kind of access only decades of fieldwork can offer.

Start here — write to
archaeoscholar@gmail.com
Engagement Formats

Three Ways to Explore

Whether you are a solo researcher, a small cohort, or a larger academic delegation — write to me and we will determine the format that best serves your scholarly objectives.

Individual
Solo Scholar
1 Participant — Fully Hosted

A deeply personal, one-on-one scholarly journey across the circuits of your choice. Ideal for doctoral researchers, independent scholars, or visiting academics. I host you personally — logistics, local transport, and site access are all arranged by me.

Itinerary, dates, and duration — all decided through our conversation.

Small Group
Cohort Expedition
2 – 5 Participants — Fully Hosted

A collaborative expedition for small research groups, thesis cohorts, or academic colleagues. The intimacy of the group allows for rich on-site discussions and cross-pollination of ideas. Fully hosted and managed by me.

Write with your group's composition and research interests.

Large Group
Expert Guide
6+ Participants — Hire As Guide

For university field trips, academic delegations, or research organisations. You manage your logistics; I bring 25 years of site-specific archaeological knowledge, on-site lectures, and scholarly context to your itinerary.

Prerequisite: All participants must have foundational knowledge of archaeology or history. A brief screening conversation is part of the process.

Credentials & Research

A Life in the Field

Dr. Sharma has extensive field experience across several of India's most important archaeological regions — Rakhigarhi, Rajgir, Nalanda, Vaishali, Pataliputra, Bodh Gaya, Vikramshila, Kesariya, Sarnath, Kushinagar, Sanchi, Bharhut, Ladakh, and major Buddhist sites of Odisha such as Lalitgiri and Ratnagiri. His explorations also include archaeological landscapes along the ancient Uttarapatha trade route across Bihar and Jharkhand.

His research interests span field archaeology, material culture studies, Buddhist archaeology, heritage management, museology, epigraphy, and early historic architecture — integrating archaeological research with art historical and cultural landscape perspectives.

Published Work
Bihar: Cultural Eminence
2017 — Author

Several published research papers in archaeology and heritage studies, with presentations at international academic conferences.

Professional Memberships

WAC — World Archaeological Congress
IPPA — Indo-Pacific Prehistory Association
SOSAA — Society of South Asian Archaeology
IAS — Indian Archaeological Society
ISPQS — Indian Society for Prehistory & Quaternary Studies
ISBS — Indian Society for Buddhist Studies

International Presence

Research presented at conferences in:

AustraliaSouth KoreaThailandSri LankaCambodia
Begin Here

Let's Start a Conversation

There are no fixed schedules, no booking forms, no standardised packages. Every expedition begins with an email — tell me about your research interests, your academic background, and what you hope to explore. We will shape something meaningful together.

archaeoscholar@gmail.com

I respond personally to every inquiry

Magadh University, Bodh Gaya, Bihar
Dept. of Ancient Indian & Asian Studies