Known to be an ancient Buddhist learning center between the 5th and 12th centuries, Nalanda is one of the Archeological gems of India. The site has been linked with Gautama Buddha, Mahavira and Ashoka and flourished as a center of learning under the Gupta Empire. Unfortunately, the site was desecrated by the Turkic chieftain Bakhtiyar Khilji in the 12th century AD.