Quick Summary
Table of Contents
Did you know that some of the world’s oldest universities were in India? Long before Oxford or Cambridge, India had amazing places where people came to learn from all over the world. These weren’t just schools; they were massive centers of knowledge that helped shape how we think about education today.
In this article, we will explore India’s top 10 fascinating ancient universities. We’ll learn about what made them special, who studied there, and why they’re still essential to us now. Get ready for a journey back in time to discover the roots of higher education in India!
Here is the list of top 10 ancient universities of India:
| University | Founding Period | Founder |
|---|---|---|
| Takshashila University | 5th century BCE – 5th century CE | Bharata dynasty (Exact founder unknown) |
| Nalanda University | 5th century CE – 1200 CE | Kumaragupta I (Gupta Empire) |
| Vallabhi University | 6th century CE – 12th century CE | Bhattarka (Maitraka dynasty) |
| Vikramashila University | 8th century CE – 12th century CE | Dharmapala (Pala dynasty) |
| Odantapuri University | 8th century CE – 12th century CE | Gopala I (Pala dynasty) |
| Somapura Mahavihara | 8th century CE – 12th century CE | Dharmapala (Pala dynasty) |
| Jagaddala Mahavihara | 11th century CE – 12th century CE | Ramapala (Pala dynasty) |
| Nagarjuna University | 2nd century CE – 3rd century CE | Nagarjuna (Philosopher) |
| Pushpagiri University | 3rd century CE – 11th century CE | Ancient Kalinga rulers (Exact founder unknown) |
| Mithila University | 12th century CE – present | Scholars of Mithila region (Self-established tradition) |
Before we explore each ancient university of India, let’s consider how education worked in ancient India. Long ago, India had a system called the Gurukul. In this system, students lived with their teacher, called a Guru. They learned not just from books but also by helping with daily chores and watching how their Guru lived. It was like going to school and living with your favorite teacher simultaneously!
As time went on, India needed bigger places to teach more people. That’s when these large universities started to appear. Kings and rich people gave money to build and run these universities. They believed that supporting education was a good and essential thing to do.
Takshashila University is like the great-grandparent of all ancient universities in India. It existed from about 500 BCE to 500 CE—that’s over 1000 years!
Takshashila was in what is now Pakistan, near Rawalpindi. It was part of ancient India. Students at Takshashila learned all sorts of cool things:
Some of the most famous people in ancient Indian history studied here:
Sadly, Takshashila, the oldest university in India, doesn’t exist anymore. It declined after multiple invasions, notably by the Huns in the 5th century CE. However, the ideas and knowledge from Takshashila spread across Asia and continue to influence education and thought even today.
Nalanda University was another superstar of ancient Indian education. It was around 400 CE to 1200 CE.
Nalanda was in Bihar, a state in eastern India. You can still visit its ruins today!
Nalanda was huge! At its peak, it had:
Nalanda was famous for teaching Buddhism, but students learned many other things too:
People came from all over Asia to study at Nalanda. A famous Chinese traveler named Xuanzang studied here and wrote about how awesome it was.
Nalanda was destroyed in the 12th century by the Turkish invader Bakhtiyar Khilji, marking the end of its illustrious existence. But guess what? In 2014, a new Nalanda University opened near the ancient site to continue its legacy of learning!
Vallabhi University was another important center of learning in ancient India. It existed from the 6th to the 12th century CE and was founded by Bhattarka, the king of the Maitraka empire.
Vallabhi was located in what is now Gujarat, in western India.
Vallabhi was almost as famous as Nalanda! It was known for:
While Nalanda focused more on Buddhism, Vallabhi was known for teaching many different ideas. It was like having several other schools in one place!
Vallabhi didn’t leave behind big ruins like Nalanda did. Also, fewer travelers wrote about it. But it was still super important in spreading knowledge across ancient India.
Vikramashila University was a major ancient university in India that served as a prominent Buddhist learning center from the 8th to the 12th century CE.
It was founded by King Dharmapala, who also supported Nalanda. He wanted to create more places for people to learn about Buddhism.
Vikramashila had:
Vikramashila was known for teaching Tantric Buddhism, which involved special meditation practices. It also:
Many critical Buddhist teachers studied or taught here, like Atisha, who helped spread Buddhism to Tibet. Which makes it one of the most ancient universities in India.
Odantapuri University was another important center of learning in ancient Bihar. It was around from the 8th to the 12th century CE.
Like Nalanda and Vikramashila, the Pala kings who ruled that area supported Odantapuri. They believed that supporting education would strengthen and wiser their kingdom.
Odantapuri was known for:
Students and teachers often moved between Odantapuri, Nalanda, and Vikramashila, which helped spread ideas and knowledge between these places.
Even though we know less about Odantapuri than Nalanda, it significantly educates people in ancient Bihar and keeps Buddhist learning alive.
Somapura Mahavihara was a spectacular Buddhist monastery and learning center. It existed from the 8th to the 12th century CE.
Somapura was located in what is now Bangladesh. Its ruins are so impressive that UNESCO has named it a World Heritage Site!
Somapura had:
At Somapura, students learned:
Somapura extensively spread Buddhism to Southeast Asian countries like Myanmar, Thailand, and Indonesia. Its beautiful design influenced Buddhist architecture in many places.
Jagaddala Mahavihara was one of the last great Buddhist universities from the ancient universities of India. It was active from the 11th to the 12th century CE.
Jagaddala was located in what is now Bangladesh, not far from Somapura.
Jagaddala was famous for:
Jagaddala was built relatively late compared to the other universities. Soon after it was built, many parts of India faced invasions that disrupted Buddhist institutions. This is why it only lasted for about a century.
Even though it existed briefly, Jagaddala produced some critical Buddhist scholars and texts that are still studied today, especially in Tibet.
Nagarjuna University, named after the famous Buddhist philosopher Nagarjuna, was an important learning center from the 2nd to the 3rd century CE.
Nagarjuna was one of the most critical thinkers in Buddhism. He developed ideas that changed how people understood Buddhism and influenced philosophy in India and beyond.
At Nagarjuna University, students focused on:
The ideas developed at Nagarjuna University had a significant impact on:
While we don’t have big ruins like Nalanda, archaeologists have found evidence of the university in Andhra Pradesh. These findings help us understand what life was like at this ancient place of learning.
Pushpagiri University was a crucial ancient university in India and a renowned Buddhist center of learning from about the 3rd to the 11th century CE.
Pushpagiri was located in what is now Odisha, in eastern India.
At Pushpagiri, students studied:
Pushpagiri was super crucial for the kingdom of Kalinga (ancient Odisha). It helped make Kalinga a center of Buddhist learning and culture in eastern India.
Archaeologists have found lots of cool stuff at the Pushpagiri site, including:
These discoveries are helping us learn more about this excellent ancient university!
Mithila University was unique among ancient Indian universities because it wasn’t connected to a Buddhist monastery. Starting around the 12th century CE, it became part of a continuous tradition of learning that, in many ways, continues to this day, earning it a place among the oldest universities in India.
Unlike the other universities we’ve talked about, Mithila:
Mithila was famous for teaching:
Mithila played a significant role in developing Indian logical thinking. Scholars associated with Mithila wrote many vital books on logic and philosophy.
While the ancient university in India doesn’t exist in the same form, the tradition of learning in Mithila continues. There’s even a modern university named after this ancient center of learning!
Now that we’ve learned about all these amazing ancient universities of India or ancient educational centers of India, let’s compare them:
| University | Time Period | Location | Main Focus | Special Feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Takshashila | 5th BCE – 5th CE | Modern-day Pakistan | Various subjects | Oldest known university |
| Nalanda | 5th – 12th CE | Bihar, India | Buddhist studies | Largest ancient university |
| Vallabhi | 6th – 12th CE | Gujarat, India | Buddhist and Jain studies | Focus on secular subjects |
| Vikramashila | 8th – 12th CE | Bihar, India | Tantric Buddhism | 108 temples within campus |
| Odantapuri | 8th – 12th CE | Bihar, India | Vajrayana Buddhism | Model for Tibetan monasteries |
| Somapura | 8th – 12th CE | Bangladesh | Buddhist studies | UNESCO World Heritage site |
| Jagaddala | 11th – 12th CE | Bangladesh | Tantric Buddhism | Important for Tibetan Buddhism |
| Nagarjuna | 2nd – 3rd CE | Andhra Pradesh, India | Mahayana Buddhism | Named after famous philosopher |
| Pushpagiri | 3rd – 11th CE | Odisha, India | Buddhist studies | Important in eastern India |
| Mithila | 12th CE – present | Bihar, India | Hindu philosophy | Non-monastic, continuing tradition |
Looking at this table, we can see some interesting patterns:
These ancient universities left a significant mark on the world, and their impact can still be felt today. Let’s look at how:
Today, people are working hard to preserve what’s left of these ancient universities of India and to continue their tradition of learning:
While much has been written about renowned institutions like Nalanda and Takshashila, there are still many surprising details about the ancient universities of India that remain lesser known. Here are some fascinating facts that highlight their uniqueness and legacy.
The ancient universities of India—like Takshashila, Nalanda, Vallabhi, and Mithila—were more than centers of education; they were thriving hubs of knowledge, welcoming scholars from across the world. These institutions taught various subjects and used advanced teaching methods that still inspire modern education. Though these universities no longer exist in their original form, their legacy remains, reminding us that India’s tradition of learning is thousands of years old. From timeless wisdom to global impact, the story of ancient Indian universities celebrates the power of knowledge and the enduring value of education.
Recommended Read:
Takshashila is considered the old university in India, dating back to around 5th century BCE.
Ancient Indian universities offered a wide range of subjects including philosophy, astronomy, medicine, logic, grammar, metaphysics, mathematics, and various schools of Hindu and Buddhist thought. Some, like Takshashila, were also known for military science and statecraft.
The top three oldest universities in India are Takshashila, Nalanda, and Vikramshila, all significant centers of learning in ancient times.
The Indian subcontinent has a rich legacy of education that dates back to the Indus Valley Civilization. Among the most prominent ancient universities of India were the renowned Buddhist Mahaviharas such as Takshashila, Kashmir Smast, Nalanda, Valabhi, Pushpagiri, Odantapuri, Vikramashila, Somapura, Bikrampur, and Jagaddala.
Vikramshila University was known for its excellence in tantric Buddhism and logic. It was founded in the 8th century CE by King Dharmapala of the Pala dynasty.
India’s oldest university is Nalanda University, established in the 5th century CE in present-day Bihar. Renowned globally, it attracted scholars from China, Korea, Tibet, and beyond. Nalanda was a major center for learning, especially in Buddhist studies, science, and philosophy.
Authored by, Amay Mathur | Senior Editor
Amay Mathur is a business news reporter at Chegg.com. He previously worked for PCMag, Business Insider, The Messenger, and ZDNET as a reporter and copyeditor. His areas of coverage encompass tech, business, strategy, finance, and even space. He is a Columbia University graduate.
Editor's Recommendations
Chegg India does not ask for money to offer any opportunity with the company. We request you to be vigilant before sharing your personal and financial information with any third party. Beware of fraudulent activities claiming affiliation with our company and promising monetary rewards or benefits. Chegg India shall not be responsible for any losses resulting from such activities.
Chegg India does not ask for money to offer any opportunity with the company. We request you to be vigilant before sharing your personal and financial information with any third party. Beware of fraudulent activities claiming affiliation with our company and promising monetary rewards or benefits. Chegg India shall not be responsible for any losses resulting from such activities.
