Makhdum Kund

Makhdum Kund is one of the sacred hot springs in Rajgir, Nalanda District, Bihar, located within the Rajgir Hot Springs complex at the foothills of the Rajgir hills. It is a natural thermal spring known for its warm mineral-rich water and is visited for bathing and religious observance. Named after Sufi saint Makhdum Shah, it is part of a cluster of kunds including Brahmakund and Suryakund and is notable for its religious and therapeutic significance.

Visitors can expect a natural hot water spring with stone-lined bathing kund and steps leading down to the water. The setting is within the Rajgir hot springs complex surrounded by hills, with separate bathing areas and continuous flow of warm water. Visitors can observe pilgrims bathing, see the simple shrine-associated structure, and experience a quiet religious atmosphere. The area is outdoors with basic ghats, changing areas nearby, and other adjacent kunds within walking distance.

Makhdum Kund is named after the Sufi saint Makhdum Shah, who is believed to have lived and meditated in Rajgir during the medieval period. The Rajgir hot springs have been mentioned in historical and religious texts and have been a place of bathing and pilgrimage for centuries, forming part of the ancient cultural landscape of Rajgir which was the capital of the Magadha kingdom.

The kund holds religious significance for both Hindu and Muslim devotees. Bathing in the warm waters is considered auspicious and purifying, especially during festivals and pilgrimages. It is part of the sacred circuit of Rajgir's hot springs where devotees perform ritual baths before visiting nearby temples and shrines, reflecting the syncretic cultural traditions of the region.