Which ancient Indian kingdom had its capital at Rajagriha before Pataliputra rose to prominence? Magadha. Rajagriha, also called Girivraja and identified with modern Rajgir, was the early capital of the expanding kingdom of Magadha.
Magadha occupied much of present-day Bihar south of the Ganges. Its location, fertile land, access to rivers and nearby mineral resources helped it become one of the strongest powers of the eastern Gangetic plain. From this base, Magadhan rulers expanded into neighbouring territories, including Anga.
Rajagriha remained especially important under the Haryanka dynasty. Kings Bimbisara and Ajatashatru ruled from the city, which was surrounded by hills and defensive walls. Buddhist and Jain traditions also associate Rajagriha with Gautama Buddha and Mahavira, making it a major religious centre as well as a political one.
The capital later shifted to Pataliputra, near modern Patna, because its position at the meeting of major rivers offered better communication, trade and strategic control. Pataliputra eventually became the capital of the Nanda, Maurya and Gupta empires. Thus Rajagriha and Pataliputra were successive capitals of the same rising power, not rival kingdoms.