VAISHALI TOURISM | TOP PLACES TO VISIT & TRAVEL GUIDE TO VAISHALI
Heritage | 
Pilgrimage
About Vaishali
#4 of 4 Places to visit in 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.
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