About Vaishali

Country: India | State: Bihar

Ideal Trip Duration: 1-2 Days

Nearest City to Vaishali: Patna (55 Kms), Hajipur (35 Kms)

Best Time to Visit Vaishali: October to March

Peak Season: November to February

At a distance of 35 km from Muzaffarpur, 55 km from Patna, 105 km from Darbhanga, 128 km from Nalanda, 145 km from Rajgir, 174 km from Bodhgaya, 182 km from Kushinagar, 233 km from Gorakhpur, 417 km from Shravasti, 505 km from Lucknow, Vaishali is a small district situated in the eastern Indian state of Bihar. Situated on the banks of Gandak River, it is one of the popular Buddhist Pilgrimage places in India and among the must include places in Bihar Tour Packages.

Vaishali or Vesali was once an ancient city and is now an archaeological site near Basarh. Vaishali is believed to have been named after King Vishal of the Mahabharata age. Gautama Buddha preached his last sermon before his death in c. 483 BC, then in 383 BC, the Second Buddhist council was convened here by King Kalasoka, making it an important place in both Jain and Buddhist religions. It contains one of the best-preserved of the Pillars of Ashoka, topped by a single Asiatic lion. Apart from Buddhists, Vaishali is revered as a holy place by Jains as it is the city where Lord Mahavir was born. Lord Rama's footprints in Ramchaura temple also builds a strong connection for Hindus as well.

Legend says that the great Lichchavi clan ruled Vaishali in the 6th century BC, and the Lichchavi state is considered to be the first republican state of Asia. Ajatshatru, the great Magadh King, annexed Vaishali in the 5th-century BCand after that Vaishali gradually lost its glory and power. The city finds mention in the travel accounts of Chinese explorers, Faxian (4th century CE) and Xuanzang (7th century CE), which were later used in 1861 by British archaeologist Alexander Cunningham to first identify Vaishali with the present village of Basarh in Vaishali district of Bihar. Later, Vaishali became a district when it was split from Muzaffarpur in 1972.

Surrounded by groves of mango and banana, Vaishali is known for its stupas along with its religious and historical importance. Ashoka Pillar, Vishwa Shanti Stupa, Chaumukhi Mahadev, Ramchaura Temple, Bawan Pokhar Temple, Vaishali Museum, etc., are some of the prominent places to visit in Vaishali as part of Vaishali Tour Packages. Also, Vaishali is famous as the land of Amrapali, the great Indian dancer who is related to many folktales. Amrapali was a beautiful and talented courtesan, who later took sanyas to follow the path of the Buddha.

Vaishali Mahotsava is one of the important and major festivals held in Vaishali with great pomp and fervor. Celebrated by both Digambara and Shwetambara Jains, the event is held on the birthday of Lord Mahavir, the Jain Teerthankar, on the 13th day of the bright half of the Chaithra month. Besides, Ramanavami, Chhath Puja, Buddha Purnima, etc. are other festivals celebrated here with great enthusiasm.

Jaya Prakash Narayan International Airport, Patna is the nearest airport which is about 61 km from Vaishali. It has direct flights from Hyderabad, Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, and Bangalore. About 35 km from Vaishali, Hajipur Junction Railway Station is the nearest railhead and has well-connected trains from Kolkata, Barauni, Asansol, Darbhanga, Sealdah, Ahmedabad, Gorakhpur, Udaipur, Mumbai, Pune, Delhi, Lucknow, Gondia, Amritsar, Surat, Sonpur, Bhagalpur, Gwalior, Muzaffarpur, Patliputra, Kamakhya, Dibrugarh, Varanasi, Patna, New Jalpaiguri. Basrah Bus Station is well connected by road with other cities of Bihar like Patna, Muzaffarpur, Hajipur, etc.

One can find many budget hotels in Vaishali (Basarh) to stay and explore the nearby places. If you want a luxury stay, Patna is the nearest city where one can find plenty of accommodations. From Patna, one can visit Vaishali as a day trip.

Vaishali has a sub-tropical climate, that is scorching in summers and cool in winters. Though the city can be visited anytime during the year, October to March is the best time to visit Vaishali when the weather is cool and pleasant.

...read more

Other Info
Internet Availability: Average
STD Code: 06224
Languages Spoken: Magadhi, Hindi, Maithili & English
Major Festivals: Vaishali Mahotsava
Notes/Tips:
None

How to Reach Vaishali

By Air

Nearest Airport: Patna - Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Airport (61 Kms)

By Train

Nearest Train Station: Hajipur (35 Kms)

By Bus

Nearest Bus Station: Vaishali (Basarh) Bus Station (0 Kms)

Top 10 Places to Visit in Vaishali

#1 of 11 Places to Visit in Vaishali

At a distance of 5 km from Basarh Bus Station, Ashoka Pillar is a historical monument located at Kolhua in Vaishali, Bihar. Situated inside the Vaishali Archaeological Ruins complex, it is one of the popular places of heritage in Bihar, and among the must include places in Vaishali Tour Packages.

Also called as the Lion Pillar, the Ashoka Pillar at Vaishali was erected by King Ashoka in 3rd century BC after being victorious on Kalinga. Influenced by Greco Buddhist style, this 18.3 m high pillar is made of a highly polished single piece of red sandstone, surmounted by a bell-shaped capital. A life-size figure of a lion is placed on top of the pillar facing north, believed to be the direction of Lord Buddha's last voyage. Generally, the pillars bear inscriptions by King Ashoka, but the one in Vaishali does not contain any such inscriptions. Unlike other Ashokan Pillars, the pillar at Vaishali bears only one old lion carved in a seated position a the top that signifies the end of the .....

...read more

#2 of 11 Places to Visit in Vaishali

At a distance of 3 km from Basarh Bus Station, Buddha's Relic Stupa is a sacred spot located at Chak Ramdas in the Vaishali district of Bihar. Situated near Vaishali Museum, it is one of the prominent historical structures in Bihar, and among the best places to visit in Vaishali.

There are two stupas, Stupa 1 and Stupa 2 which are named based on their discovery and excavation. Both of them have the ashes of Lord Buddha preserved in stone caskets. Situated near the Coronation Tank or Abhishek Pushkarini, the Stupa 1 or the Relic Stupa was excavated by Dr. A.S.Altekar in 1985, and inside, a stone casket was found containing some ashes and 'Manka'. That casket is now with the Patna Museum.

According to the legend, after the salvation of Lord Buddha, his ashes were divided and distributed among 8 kings of those times, and Licchavis of Vaishali were one of them. The Licchavis built a stupa at this place over their share of the Buddha's relic. Now only the base of the stupa is left, .....

...read more

#3 of 11 Places to Visit in Vaishali

At a distance of 3 km from Basarh Bus Station, Vishwa Shanti Stupa is a peace pagoda located near Vishali Museum in Vaishali, Bihar. Also known as World Peace Pagoda, it is one of the Peace Pagodas in India, and among the most-visited tourist places in Vaishali.

The Vishwa Shanti Stupa or World Peace Pagoda was built by the collaboration of the Indian & Japanese Government in 1969. The peace Pagoda spread in ten acres was constructed under the wish of Fujii Guruji, a Japanese Buddhist. Also known as the pillar of the piece in Vaishali, it is one of the 80 stupas around the world dedicated to Buddhism.

Built-in the Japanese style of architecture, this 38-meter tall pagoda has a 20 meters dome and enshrines Buddhist relics inside it. Several idols of Buddha are placed around the pagoda that depicts the Lord meditating in different postures. It is a huge, white, beautiful stupa surrounded by enormous greenery, serenity, and a pond where the visitors can go for boating. The birth .....

...read more

#4 of 11 Places to Visit in Vaishali

At a distance of 500 m from Vishwa Shanti Stupa, and 3 km from Basarh Bus Station, Vaishali Museum is an archaeological museum situated on the banks of Coronation Tank in Vaishali, Bihar. It is one of the popular museums in Bihar, and among the interesting places to visit in Vaishali for history lovers.

Vaishali Museum was established in the year 1971 by the Archaeological Survey of India to persevere and display the antiquities discovered at the various sites in Vaishali. The basis of this museum was a small collection of antiquities by a local villager in pre Independence days and was subsequently taken over by a local museum controlled by VishaliSangh. With the establishment of the present museum by the Archaeological Survey of India, all the antiquities were donated to it by the VaishaliSangh. Now, the museum has over 2000 antiques showcasing the medieval cultures and the reign of Mauryas, Guptas, Kushans, and Sanga.

The museum consists of four galleries around a central .....

...read more

#5 of 11 Places to Visit in Vaishali

At a distance of 2.5 km from Basarh Bus Station, Chaumukhi Mahadev Temple is a sacred Hindu shrine located in Vaishali, Bihar. It is one of the historic Hindu temples in Vaishali, and among the well-known places to visit in Vaishali.

Chaumukhi Mahadev, or Chaturmukhi Mahadev, is a historic Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. Also known as 'Vikramaditya Chaumukhi Mandir', the temple houses a huge Shivling with four faces representing Lord Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, and Surya. It is said that the four faces of the Shivalinga point towards the 4 directions.

While the construction time is unknown, the temple is believed to have been built during the 5th century. According to legend, the temple existed during the Ramayana period. Lord Rama, Lakshmana, and Sage Vishwa Mithra visited the temple while on their way to Mithila, the kingdom of Janaka. It is also believed that Buddha and Mahavir stayed in the shrine. Chaumukhi Mahadeva Temple is the mid-point of Kashi Vishwanath Mandir, .....

...read more

#6 of 11 Places to Visit in Vaishali

At a distance of 2 km from Basarh Bus Station, Raja Vishal ka Garh is an ancient fort located in Vaishali, Bihar. It is one of the historical forts in Bihar, and among the must include places in Vaishali tour packages.

Also known as Vaishali Garh, Raja Vishal Ka Garh is said to be the ancient parliament house, where around seven thousand representatives used to gather to discuss political affairs. A protected monument and maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the place has a huge historical significance believed to be existing since the time of the Vajjis and the Lichchavis.

Known as the 'Mother of Parliament in Bihar', Raja Vishal ka Garh is a huge dome spanning about a kilometer, containing looming walls about 2 meters high. A moat surrounds the corners of the towers, and the building is known to have been King Vishal's parliament. Excavations at the site have established the presence of human settlement in 185-73 BC together with artifacts dating back to .....

...read more

#7 of 11 Places to Visit in Vaishali

At a distance of 37 km from Vaishali, Ramchaura Mandir is a sacred Hindu temple situated in the Hajipur town of Bihar. It is one of the popular and among the must-visit places near Vaishali.

Ramchaura Mandir is dedicated to Lord Ram and it is said that the temple has been there since the time of Ramayana. Also, it is believed that Lord Shri Ram has visited this place on his way to Janakpur, due to which this place has great religious value for the Hindu populace. The temple is built where the footprint was embossed on the ground.

The Ramchaura Mandir has a tradition of celebrating Rama Navami, the birth anniversary of Rama, every year with full zeal and enthusiasm. Also, a small fair is organized during Rama Navami. 'Bari Sangat' and 'Chhoti Sangat' are also situated near Ramchaura Temple. During the ancient period, many Saints, Mahatmas, and Yogi used to visit these Sangats and offered their prayers.

Timings: 6 AM - 6 PM

Entry: Free

...read more

#8 of 11 Places to Visit in Vaishali

At a distance of 2 km from Basarh Bus Station, Bawan Pokhar Temple is an ancient Hindu temple located in Vaishali, Bihar. Situated on the banks of Bawan Pokhar, it is one of the historical temples in Bihar, and among the well-known places to visit in Vaishali.

Bawan Pokhar Temple or the old temple of Vaishali is dedicated to several gods. Built during the Pala period, Bawan Pokhar Temple has a unique architectural design built predominantly using the medieval era architecture. The beautiful images of Hindu gods and goddess adorn the walls of the temple and they are a salient feature of the temple. In this temple, a big number of Hindu deities have been enshrined in one place and they all are worshipped collectively.

The Bawan Pokhar temple houses a rich collection of black basalt images dating back to the Gupta and Pala period. Devotees will also get to offer prayer to a four-headed Shiva Linga found buried in the temple area. Not only Hindus, but people from other religions .....

...read more

#9 of 11 Places to Visit in Vaishali

At a distance of 12 km from Rajgir, 25 km from Bihar Shariff, 80 km from Bodhgaya, 92 km from Patna, 138 km from Vaishali, 145 km from Muzaffarpur, 205 km from Darbhanga, 230 km from Dhanbad, 252 km from Ranchi, 290 km from Purulia, 316 km from Varanasi, 318 km from Sarnath, 436 km from Prayagraj, and 624 km from Lucknow, Nalanda is an ancient city situated in the northeast Indian state of Bihar. It is one of the popular places of heritage in Bihar and among the must include places in the Buddhist Circuit of India that also includes Bodh Gaya, Sarnath, and Lumbini.

Nalanda is one of the greatest centers of learning in the ancient kingdom of Magadha (modern-day Bihar) in India. The city houses one of the world's oldest and finest residential universities which itself was an architectural masterpiece. Nalanda was initially a prosperous village that ran past the route of Rajgriha (modern Rajgir) which was then the capital of Magadha. It is said that the Jain Tirthankara, Mahavira, spent .....

Distance (From Vaishali): 128 Kms
Trip Duration (From Vaishali - Including Travel): Full Day
.....

...read more

#10 of 11 Places to Visit in Vaishali

At a distance of 12 km from Nalanda, 32 km from Bihar Shariff, 71 km from Bodhgaya, 103 km from Patna, 153 km from Muzaffarpur, 197 km from Darbhanga, 225 km from Dhanbad, 247 km from Ranchi, 295 km from Purulia, 310 km from Varanasi, 431 km from Allahabad, Rajgir is an ancient city in Nalanda district of Bihar. Known for its holy sites, it is one of the popular places of pilgrimage in India and among the must include places in Bihar Tour Packages.

Rajgir is a spiritual town set in a green valley and surrounded by rocky hills. The town finds its mention in the Mahabharata as the kingdom of Jarasandha, the arch-nemesis of Krishna and his Yadava clan. While the exact date of Rajgir's foundation is not known, ceramics dating to about 1000 BC have been found in the city. The famous 2500-year-old Cyclopean Wall (Cyclopean masonry) is also located in the city.

The city of Rajgir was the first capital of the kingdom of Magadha, until the 5th century BC when Udayin (460-440 BC), son .....

Distance (From Vaishali): 145 Kms
Trip Duration (From Vaishali - Including Travel): Half Day to Full Day
.....

...read more