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Introduction |
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Vaishali is situated in the eastern Indian state of Bihar, around 55 km off Patna, the capital of the state. Believed to be the first republic in the world, Vaishali has taken its name from King Vishal of the Mahabharata age. He is said to have constructed a great fort here, which is now in ruins. Vaishali is a great Buddhist pilgrimage and also the birthplace of Lord Mahavira. It is said that the Buddha visited this place thrice and spent quite a long time here. The Buddha also delivered his last sermon at Vaishali and announced his Nirvana here. After his death, Vaishali also held the second Buddhist Council. Vaishali is also famous as the land of Ambapali, the great Indian dancer who is related to many folktales. Ambapali was a beautiful and talented courtesan, who later took sanyas to follow the path of the Buddha.
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| Best Time to Travel |
October to March |
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Ashokan Pillar
Major Tourist Attractions in Vaishali Ashokan Pillar, The Lion Pillar at Kolhua, was built by Emperor Ashoka. Made of single piece of red sandstone, the pillar is capped by an 18 m high bell shaped capital. On the top is kept a life-size figure of lion.
Bawan Pokhar Temple
A Hindu temple, Bawan Pokhar temple is situated on the banks of a lake called Bawan Pokhar. The old temple, built during Pala period, enshrines beautiful images of Hindu Gods and Goddesses.
Buddha Stupa 1 and 2
The Buddha Stupas were created in the name of the second Buddhist council. The outer stupa has a stone box, which has one-eighth of lord Buddha's ashes. The inner stupa was excavation in 1958 and it also held a stone box containing some part the ashes of the Lord Buddha.
Raja Vishal ka Garh
The fort of King Vishal is in ruins today. A huge platform here, which has a circumference of about one Kilometre and walls nearly 2m high with a 43m wide moat, is said to be the parliament house of King Vishal. More than seven thousands representatives could stand here to discuss the issues.
Coronation Tank
An excavated site, this place is believed as an ancient parliament house of the Lichchavi government. The water of the tank was used to anoint the selected representatives. It is located near the Raja Vishal ka Garh.
Kutagarasala Vihara
Kutagarasala ViharaKutagarasala Vihara is the monastery where Buddha most frequently stayed while visiting Vaishali. It is located 3 kilometres from the relic Stupa, and on its ground can be found the Ananda Stupa, with an Asokan pillar in very good condition (perhaps the only complete Asokan pillar left standing), and an ancient pond.
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Introduction |
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Vaishali is situated in the eastern Indian state of Bihar, around 55 km off Patna, the capital of the state. Believed to be the first republic in the world, Vaishali has taken its name from King Vishal of the Mahabharata age. He is said to have constructed a great fort here, which is now in ruins. Vaishali is a great Buddhist pilgrimage and also the birthplace of Lord Mahavira. It is said that the Buddha visited this place thrice and spent quite a long time here. The Buddha also delivered his last sermon at Vaishali and announced his Nirvana here. After his death, Vaishali also held the second Buddhist Council. Vaishali is also famous as the land of Ambapali, the great Indian dancer who is related to many folktales. Ambapali was a beautiful and talented courtesan, who later took sanyas to follow the path of the Buddha.
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| Best Time to Travel |
October to March |
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How To Reach |
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Air
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The nearest airport from Vaishali is Patna, 55 km away. One can take flights for Delhi, Calcutta, Varanasi, and Lucknow from there.
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Road
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Roads are the most suitable means to reach Vaishali. There are regular buses for Patna and other cities of North Bihar from Vaishali.
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Rail
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The nearest railhead is Hajipur, 35 km, which is well connected to major cities of India like Delhi, Calcutta, Mumbai, Chennai, and Varanasi by regular trains.
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