Rajgir's tourism potential would reach a new high as chief minister Nitish Kumar inaugurated the ambitious Pandu Pokhar development project on Thursday.

The project, which is a sprawling park, offers tourism-centric amenities, including rejuvenation of an old pond, along with development of tourist amenities and infrastructure.

A few major amenities under the park include a 4.5m-wide jogging track, children playing areas, food and beverage counters with sitting areas. A lush green park having a bhool-bhulaiya (children-amusement maze area) has also been developed as a part of the project.

Nitish also inaugurated Vardhman Ayurvigyan Sansthan, a medical college and hospital at the neighbouring Pawapuri and Nalanda College of Engineering at Chandi in the same district.

"Pandu Pokhar would attract more tourists in Rajgir. The entire Nalanda district is historically rich and places like the Nalanda ruins, Nalanda University, Vardhman Ayurvigyan Sansthan and the engineering college at Chandi would create new dimensions in the field of education," said Nitish.

Spread over an area of around 22 acres in front of International Convention Centre, Pandu Pokhar has been developed by Bihar State Road Development Corporation Ltd (BSRDCL) utilising funds to the tune of Rs 16.22 crore. The project primarily falls under the domain of the tourism department. Union tourism ministry in the 2013-14 fiscal had sanctioned Rs 11.11cr for the project.

The pokhar site faces the majestic Vaibhav Giri Mountain towards its right and the convention centre falls on its left. Residents, too, hailed the development of the park.

"Rajgir did not have any park as such. Besides, the land over which the park has been developed was lying abandoned. Thus, it is a welcome move by the government to develop a tourist-friendly amenities here but its fate is completely dependent on its maintenance," said K.N. Jha, the manager at Indo-Hokke Hotel located adjacent to the park.

Senior officials in BSRDCL informed that the work on the project started in late 2013.

"The project has been developed in an eco-friendly manner and emphasis has been given on the finer details. Plantation has been done in different areas to maintain the lush greenery of the entire area," said a senior BSRDCL official.

One of the most attractive components of the project is a 30-feet statue of Maharaj Pandu. Historians seemed divided on the existence of the Maharaj. Some claimed that it is because of the location of the old pond surrounded by five hills, popularly known as "Pandav Mountains" in Rajgir.

"Historical texts state that the first Buddhist council is believed to have been held here. Lord Buddha is also believed to have ventured the mountain. Ancient Buddhist stupa, Shiva and Jai temples are also situated atop the mountain," said Deepak Anand, a heritage consultant at Nav Nalanda Mahavihara in Nalanda.

Other historians correlate the name Pandu with the Mahabharat. Some structures in Rajgir such as Jarasandha ki Baithak and Jarasandha ka Akhara are still connected with Jarasandha, the king of Magadha, in the time of the Mahabharat war.