Vaishali

Vaishali is a district in Bihar that enthrals visitors with plethora of ancient attractions. It is popular among Buddhist and Jain travellers, who are regular visitors of this culturally and historically affluent place. The endless beauty and glorious culture of Vaishali has been recorded in various celebrated historical publications and famous mythological scripts. Though a historical destination, Vaishali treasures substantial tourist places like ancient structures, stupas, religious places, parks, and museums. Tourists to Vaishali are allured by shopping spots, conspicuous heritage places, and historical monuments. With every single outing in and around Vaishali, you are sure to get a new and unforgettable experience.

Vaishali district is named after the ancient (Vaishali) city and is located at Bihar in eastern India. The place is famous as a pilgrimage spot. It is the birthplace of Lord Mahavira and so is sacred for people of Jain community. One of the top religious hotspot in eastern India, Vaishali was once said to have more than thousands of parks and lotus ponds. You can a still see some of the timeless historical structures as an unspoken tribute to olden times. The mystical city of Vaishali experiences sub-tropical climate. Deriving its name from King Vishal the great Indian Epic, Vaishali is believed to be the first democratic republic of the world. With a history dating back to the Mahabharata age, Vaishali is also renowned as the place where Gautam Buddha offered his last preaching. Sonepur Mela (Fair) and Vaishali Mahotsava are wonderful festivals celebrated in their own unique manner. These festivals attract flocks of tourists from across the globe.

October to February (Winters)

The must visit places at Vaishali include historical places, heritage spots, religious destinations, and water gateways. Sightseeing in Vaishali includes museums, stupas, temples, pagodas, historical buildings/monuments, fort, pillars, and others. To make sure, you don’t miss any of these attractions, take a look at the checklists to Vaishali:

Eat as the locals eat in Bihar to enjoy the place. Restaurants in Vaishali serve a variety of cuisines from different states of India. However, a visit to Vaishali is incomplete without tasting the local items. Try a typical Bihari Thali, which consists of boiled rice, chappatis, vegetables, salad, achar (pickle), and dal. Enjoy the speciality dishes of Bihar like ‘Litti Chokha,’ ‘Puri Sabzi,’ ‘Khaja (sweet dish),’ and ‘Sattau Paratha’ at Rajdhani Restaurant.

Madhubani paintings, local handicrafts, stone sculptures, and clothing are some of the top items worth buying in Vaishali. Located about 131 km. from Vaishali, a place called Madhubani is popular for Madhubani paintings. Local artisans and painters create extraordinary paintings filled with beautiful colours, depicting a unique story. You can buy Madhubani paintings to decorate your house or buy it’s as a memento of your trip.

Vaishali is well-connected by road, rail, and air. Jaiprakash Narayan Airport, Patna (70 km.) is the nearest airport to visit Vaishali. You can easily reach Vaishali from major Indian cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata, and many others. Tourists can also take a train to reach Vaishali. The nearest railway station is Hajipur Railway Station (35 km.) and Muzaffarpur Railway Station (40 km.) Daily trains are available for Vaishali from all the major cities. You can also reach this well connected place by road. You can rent a cool cab or taxi to reach the city. In order to explore every nook and corner of the city, it is best to hire a tourist guide or buy a city guide map.

The city has many other attractions that are worth-visiting like Fort Vishal, Kutagarasala Vihara, Quzi Miran Suttari Mazar and Buddha Stupa, Budha Stupa I & II, Baniya Chaturmukhi Mahadeo (Chaumukhi Mahadeva) Temple, Ananda Stupa etc.

Bodh Gaya , located about 172 km. from Vaishali is a popular pilgrim spot. The place houses significant Buddhist religious places like Bodhi Tree, Mahabodhi Temple, and several others. The massive statue of Lord Buddha in Bodh Gaya is a major tourist attraction. Jain travellers can visit Pawapuri , located about 140 km. away from Vaishali. Jains strongly believe that visiting this place can make them free from all the sins. Jal Mandir (a popular Jain Temple) is one of popular places to visit in Pawapuri. Nalanda (about 128 km. away) lures tourists for its historic importance. It was once an important centre for higher learning in India. You can visit some of many Buddhists monasteries built in Nalanda, during King Ashoka’s time. Patna andMuzaffarpur, both located near Vaishali are worth a visit too, if you haveenough time during your holiday.