Vaishali Tourism

Vaishali Tourism Located in the interiors of Bihar, Vaishali is a small district which is also a revered Hindu, Buddhist and Jain worshipping site. It is the city where Lord Mahavir was born. Considered as the first republic of the world, Vaishali is believed to have been named after King Vishal, from the time of Mahabharat.It is also the city where Buddha delivered his last sermon. Surrounded by groves of mango and banana and extensive rice field, it is now a part of Trihut division of Bihar. The village is an important religious and historical attraction site and is flocked by tourists year in and year out. Lord Buddha has spent a significant time of his life here and he used to visit Vaishali every now and then. Also, his last sermon was held here in Vaishali, which marks the town as an extremely significant center for Buddhism. To mark this event King Ashoka, who embraced Buddhism after the massacre of Kalinga, he decided to erect one of his remarkable pillars here. Apart from Buddhists, Vaishali is revered as a holy place by Jains because it also happens to be Lord Mahavira's birth place. Lord Ram's footprints in Ramchaura temple also builds a strong connection for Hindus as well. Vaishali today is a small village surrounded by banana and mango groves as well as rice fields. However, excavations in the area have brought to light an important historical past. The epic Ramayana tells the story of the heroic King Vishal who ruled here. Historians maintain that one of the world's first democratic republics with an elected assembly of representatives flourished here in the 6th century B.C. in the time of the Vajjis and the Lichchavis. And while Pataliputra, capital of the Mauryas and the Guptas, held political sway over the Gangetic plain, Vaishali was the center for trade and industry. Lord Buddha visited Vaishali frequently and at Kolhua, close by, preached his last sermon. Download V What's Great? Lush greenery. Less pollution. What's not so Great? Extremely hot in summers. For Whom Vaishali is one of the important Buddhist pilgrimage centers in the world. Apart from pilgrims, Vaishali is a major attraction for historians and architects.

Confluence of Religions An ancient city referred in the Hindu epics, Vaishali is still an important place for Jains and Buddhists. Named after Raja Vishal, Vaishali is also the birthplace of Mahavira.The former capital of the Lichavis, today Vaishali is under the control of the Archaeological Survey of India. The small town is believed to be the place where Gautam Buddha taught his disciples, evident from the Viharas excavated in the region. The city still holds evidence of Ashoka's contribution to commemorate Buddha's enlightenment and preach Buddhism and is thus revered as one of the most visited pilgrim centers in the world. History of Vaishali Even before the advent of the Buddhism or Jainism, Vaishali was the capital of the Vajji clan of Mithila in 6th century BC. It was the first republic of the world even before the ones found in ancient Greece. Numerous texts are found pertaining to both Jainism and Buddhism which are a source of most of the information on the religions. The two most important events of which are- the birth of Vardhaman Mahavir and Gautam Buddha delivering his last sermon here. Earlier it was a part of Muzaffarpur district. The famous World Peace Pagoda (Vishwa Shanti Stupa) was built by a Japanese new religion sect- Nipponzan-My?h?ji-Daisanga. It is also popular as the birthplace of Ambapali, who is a famous Indian courtesan and appears in many folktales. Vaishali became a district when it was separated from Muzaffarpur in 1972 and came to be a part of Bihar.

One Day Itinerary Day 1: Arrive in the city and start by visiting the famous Ashoka Pillar. It was built by King Ashoka as a mark of respect when he converted to Buddhism after the massacre of the Kalinga War. Proceed to visit he Vishwa Shanti Stupa which was built in collaboration of the Japanese government. Next visit the Buddha?s Stupas- Stupa 1 and Stupa 2, both of which have the ashes of Lord Buddha in stone caskets. Day 2: Spend the first half of the day visiting the ruins of Vishal Fort. It has a 1 km huge governing house of the Lichchavi tribe. Visit the Bawan Pokhra Temple for some beautiful images of Hindu gods and goddesses. Before ending your visit, spend some quiet time in Abhishek Pushakaran. It is believed that the water of the pool is sacred and it was used for the coronation of the previous kings.

Restaurants and Local Food in Vaishali Vaishali being a part of Bihar is rich in Bihari cuisine. Some of the best and most loved dishes are Kadhi Chawal, Khichdi, Litti Chokha which is a wheat ball stuffed with baked grams and chopped onions.

Oct-Janis the best time to visit Vaishali Vaishali has a sub-tropical climate, i.e., scorching in summers and cool in winters. Though the city can be visited anytime during the year, the maximum tourists visit the city in winters on the occasion of World Peace Festival. Weather in Vaishali Loading... Vaishali in Summer (March - June) Summer temperature in Vaishali ranges between 25 to 45 degrees. The hot and humid climate attracts fewer tourists during this season leading to a drop in hotel prices. Vaishali in Monsoon (July - September) Monsoons bring high rainfall in the region. Rains bring down the temperature of Vaishali and make the weather comfortable for sightseeing. Vaishali in Winter (November - February) Though winter mornings in Vaishali are pleasant and ideal for sightseeing, the town receives chilly nights with dense fogs. Temperature ranges between 25 to 4 degrees during this season. The Kalachakra Festival is a major attraction in this season. Monthly Weather in Vaishali Month Avg. Minimum (°C) Avg. Maximum (°C) January 8 22 February 11 27 March 14 30 April 19 36 May 22 36 June 26 36 July 24 32 August 24 33 September 22 31 October 19 32 November 13 28 December 10 22

Events in Vaishali Sonepur Mela, Vaishali 14th November - 13th December The Sonepur Cattle Fair, which is the biggest cattle fair of Asia, streches on from 15 days to one month and attracts visitors from all over the world. Dogs, Buffalos, Donkies, and even the occasional camel are traded. However, the main attraction is the Hathi Bazaar for the elephants. Handicrafts stalls are also put up.