|
Vaishali
Population : 25,000
Languages : Hindi, Vajjika, Maithili, & English
Best time to visit : October to March
STD Code : 06225
Vaishali is situated in the eastern Indian state of Bihar,
around 55 km off Patna, the capital of the state. Vaishali
extends from latitude 25° in the North to longitude 85° in
the East. The town, an important place for both the Buddhists
and Jains, is well connected to other important cities in
Bihar by road.
As in other places in upper Gangetic plain, Vaishali has an
extreme climate. The summers are hot with the maximum temperature
touching 45° C. On the other hand, winters are cold and the
minimum temperature can go down to 6°C. The best season to
visit this place is winter i.e. October to March.
Places of Interest
Kolhua is the first important place when one starts
exploring Vaishali. There is a huge iron pillar beside a brick
stupa here, believed to be constructed by King Ashoka. The
pillar was constructed to commemorate the last sermon of the
Buddha here. Near the pillar are ruins of a monastery and
a large tank where the Buddha used to reside during his stay
here.
The Vaishali Museum is a great place for the tourists
interested in archeology. The museum houses an array of remains
discovered at the various sites in Vaishali. Close to the
museum is a circular tin shed covering the remnants of the
stupa, which once housed the Buddha’s funeral ashes.
At one side of the museum is the Abhishek Pushkarani or
the coronation tank of the Lichchavi’s. A little distance
away is Raja Vishal Ka Garh, an excavated site believed to
be the remains of the ancient parliament house where the federal
assembly of the Lichchavi government gathered to discuss and
regulate the ancient republic.
The Bawan Pokhar Temple, built during the Pala period,
stands on the northern bank of a tank known as Bawan Pokhar
and enshrines beautiful images of several Hindu gods.
A major attraction in Vaishali is the Vishwa Shanti Stupa
(pillar of peace), one of the newest additions to this
important site. This monument, built on the south bank of
the coronation tank, is one of the highest in the world and
has been built in collaboration with the Japanese government.
SITES NEARBY
Vaishali is a part of the famous Buddhist Circuit comprising
Sarnath, Kushinagar, Bodhgaya, and Kushinagar. Nearby cities
such as Patna, Rajgir, and Bodhgaya are some of the places
worth exploring. Madhubani, around 100 km from Vaishali, is
famous for its paintings by the same name and can be reached
easily by road.
Patna, the capital of Bihar is quite close by and is
also worth a visit. It is one of the few cities in the world
having a long and extremely rich history, as it was once the
capital of the mighty Magadh empire.
Nearby cities such as Rajgir, Nalanda, and Bodhgaya
are very important sites to explore if one has an interest
in Buddhism and the culture and society during those days.
Four kilometers off Vaishali is Kundupur, the birthplace
of Lord Mahavira. There is a plaque at the site proclaiming
it to be the place where the 24th Tirthankar of the Jains
was born.
WHERE TO STAY
There are moderate accommodation options available in Vaishali.
Very few tourists stay overnight in Vaishali due to its limited
accommodation options. It is better to stay in Patna and venture
out for Vaishali early in the morning.
HOW TO REACH
By Air
The nearest airport from Vaishali is Patna, 55 km away. One
can take flights for Delhi, Calcutta, Kathmandu, Varanasi,
and Lucknow from there.
By Rail
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.
By Road
Roads are the most suitable means to reach Vaishali. There
are regular buses for Patna and other cities of North Bihar
from Vaishali. Tourist coaches with guides are also available
from Patna for a tour of Vaishali.
Distances of some important cities of Bihar from Vaishali
are Patna 55 km, Hajipur 35 km, Muzaffarpur 37 km, Bodhgaya
163 km, Rajgir 145 km, and Nalanda 140 km.
|
|
|
|
|
