Founded during the Gupta Empire, Nalanda flourished as a Buddhist centre of learning from 427 to 1197 CE. Emperor Ashoka the Great laid its foundation in the 3rd Century BCE, with subsequent rulers from the Gupta and Pala dynasties fostering its growth. At its zenith in the 7th century AD, Nalanda boasted an impressive enrollment of 10,000 students and 2,000 teachers, drawing scholars and seekers of knowledge from across the world.