Ekangarsarai is a census town and corresponding community development block in Nalanda district of Bihar state, India. As of 2011, its population was 6,672. Geography It is located at at an elevation of 55 m above MSL. This small city is very close to Rajgir pahari. Demographics As of 2011, the sex ratio of the town of Ekangarsarai was 897 among the general population and 811 among 0-6 year olds. Members of scheduled castes made up 9.59% of the town's population, and members of scheduled tribes made up 0.19%. The literacy rate was 79.15% (86.56% among men and 71.01% among women), the highest in Nalanda district. Archaeology There are a number of archaeological sites in Ekangarsarai block, of which the most widely documented is the former Buddhist monastery of Telhara (Telhāḍa), 4 km west of Ekangarsarai. Most of the extant sculptures found in the block have been stylistically dated to the Pala period, in the 9th-13th centuries CE, and they represent a mixture of Buddhist and Brahmanic elements. Such a mixture, also noted at the ruins of Nalanda, may represent a lingering of Buddhist elements even after Brahmanic Hinduism mostly replaced Buddhism in the region, or it may also represent a mixture of religious groups in the area. Telhara Chief among the archaeological sites in the block is the Buddhist monastery of Telhara (Telhāḍa), 4 km west of Ekangarsarai. Mentioned by Xuanzang as Telādhākkā, and also visited by Yijing, Telhara was a historically important settlement. It later formed a Mughal-era pargana. Most other archaeological sites in Ekangsarai block historically formed part of its catchment area. Excavations here began in 2009. A number of stone and bronze Buddhist sculptures from the Pala and Sena periods have been found here, along with some Brahmanic icons. Mandhachh 12 km northwest of Telhara and 6 km northwest of Ekangarsarai. This site contains a 3 acre mound, known locally as a garh, located on the southeast side of the village and bearing artifacts identified with the Northern Black Polished Ware culture, the BSW, Black and red ware culture, and others, indicating an origin of at least the 1st-2nd centuries CE. Sculptural remains, often damaged or fragmentary, include depictions of Uma-Maheshvara, of Vamana, and of Ganesha, all dated to the 9th-10th century CE based on style, as well as a panel depicting the Dashavatara, the ten primary avatars of Vishnu, dating from the 11th-12th century based