"Vikramshila had guided the path for the nation and promoted research in the past. I will talk to PM Modi to develop and revive Vikramshila University," Mukherjee said in his address at a public meeting after he visited the ruins of Vikramshila University in Bihar's Bhagalpur district.

Mukherjee said Vikramshila should not be a museum and should be developed as a centre for higher education.

The President reached Bhagalpur on Sunday evening. He began a three-day visit to West Bengal, Jharkhand and Bihar on April 1.

He also visited the university museum.

Vikramshila was among the most important centres of Buddhist learning in ancient India but the remains of the university have been neglected for years.

Now, its ruins would be conserved on the lines of its older counterpart Nalanda, according to authorities.

Vikramshila University was founded in the late 8th century. It was intended to complement the world class universities at Nalanda and Takshila. 

It lasted four centuries before being destroyed during an attack by Bakhtiyar Khilji of the Delhi Sultanate.