- founded by Gopal in 750AD
- Dharampala most imp ruler
- granted 200 villages to Nalanda Uni for maintenance and upkeep
- created 3 uni of Buddhist learning
- Vikramshila
- Somarupa
- Oddantpuri
- During pala tenure, birth of Vajrayana Buddhism happened in Nalanda
- regarded as Tantrik version of Buddhism
- from Nalanda, Vajrayana Buddhism made its traverse to Tibet and matured into Kalachakrayana Buddhism