Vaishali has a past that pre-dates recorded history. It is held that the town derives its name from king Vishal, whose heroic deeds are narrated in the Hindu epic Ramayans. However, history records that around the time Patliputra was the center of political activity in the Gangetic plains, Vaishali came into existence as center of industry and trade.

Lying on the north bank of the Ganga, it was the seat of the republic of Vajji. Vaishali is credited with being the world's first republic to have a duly elected assembly of representatives and efficient administration.

Vaishali, is spiritually supreme : Lord Buddha visited this place frequently and at Kolhua, close by, preached his last sermon. To commemorate the event, Emperor Ashoka, in the third century B.C. erected one of his famous lion pillars here. A hundred years after the mahaparinirvana of the Buddha - Vaishali hosted the second great Buddhist council. Two stupas were erected to commemorate this event. Jainism, too, has its origins in Vaishali, for in 527 B.C., Lord Mahavir was born on the outskirts of the city, and lived in Vaishali till he was 22. Vaishali is then twice blessed and remains an important pilgrim center for both Buddhists and Jains, attracting also historians foraging for the past.

General Information

How to get there

Air
The nearest airport is Patna 56 km connected with Calcutta, Delhi, Ranchi and Lucknow.

Rail
Hajipur (35 km) on the North Eastern Railway is the nearest railway station

Road
Vaishali is connected by road to Patna (55 km), Muzaffarpur (36 km) and Hajipur (35 km).

In and around

Ashoka Pillar
The Lion pillar at Kolhua was built by Emperor Ashoka. It is made of a highly polished single piece of red sandstone, surmounted by a bell shaped capital, 18.3m high. A life size figure of lion is placed on top of the pillar.

Buddha StupaI
The exterior of this stupa which is now in a dilapidated condition has a plain surface. One eighth of the sacred ashes of the Lord Buddha were enshrined here in a stone casket.

Buddha Stupa II 
Excavation at this site in 1958 led to the discovery of another casket containing the ashes of the Lord Buddha.

Raja Vishal Ka Ghar 
A huge mound with a circumferences about 1 km and walls nearly 2m high with a 43 m wide moat around them, is said to be the ancient parliament house. Over 7000 representatives of the federal assembly gathered here to legislate and discuss the problems of the day.

Coronation Tank Or Abhishekh Puskharni
Its water were believed to be sacred in the old days and all of Vaishali's elected representatives were anointed here before their searing in.

Kundupur
It is believed that the Jain Tirthankar, Lord Mahavira was born over 2550 years ago. Mahavir is said to have spent the first 22 years of his life here. urn to Patna (55 km) to undertake any excursions they may wish to organize