Itkhori

Bhadrakali College was established at Itkhori in 1979. Affiliated with the Vinoba Bhave University it offers courses in arts, science and commerce streams.^[8]

Gautama Buddha once stayed here for some time. His maternal aunt failed to disturb him in his meditation. She left the place with the comment "Iti khoi" which in Pali means "I lost him here". Later, the place came to be known as Itkhori. There are various Buddhist relics at Itkhori dating from 200 BC to 1200 AD. There is a ‘stupa’ like structure with 104 Bodhisattvas and four principal Buddhas sculpted on each side. Buddhist and Jain monks from different countries visit Itkhori round the year.^[9][10][11]

Itkhori has the footprint of the 10th Jain tirthankara, Shitalanatha. Plans are afoot for a Jain temple at Itkhori.^[12]

The Ma Bhadrakali temple, built in the 9th century, has several ancient deities that includes the Hindu deity Bhadrakali and the Buddhist deity Tara.^[9][11] Itkhori Mahotsav is organised annually in February.^[13]

It is believed that Siddhārtha Gautama travelled from Itkhori to Bodh Gaya where he attained enlightenment. Numerous Buddhist and Hindu sculptures have been unearthed at a village called Bihari, near Itkhori. It is also near Kauleshwari Temple. Many other sculptures have been found while digging wells etc. in the region. There are some valuable sculptures in the Bhadrakali Mandir Museum.^[14]