Vaishali is one of the sacred places where Lord Buddha had preached before attaining Nirvana. In the outskirts of Vaishali, Lord Mahavira was also born and it was here that he stayed till the age of 22. King Ashoka too, came here and erected many magnificent structures. The famous courtesan Amrapali, who was known for her beauty, also belonged to Vaishali. This is one of the most sacred places that falls within the trail of Buddhism. Today it is a popular religious center amongst the Jains and Buddhists.

Vaishali is mentioned in one of the most glorious chapters of Indian history and more so, in the Buddhist context. Five years after attaining Enlightenment, Lord Buddha had come to Vaishali to preach his teachings.. It was here that the beautiful courtesan Amrapali realized that even beauty was transitory and thereby she received the divine Order.

Vaishali derives its name from King Vishal of the Mahabharata age.  Even before the advent of Buddhism and Jainism, Vaishali was the capital of the vibrant republican Licchavi state before the birth of Mahavira (c. 599 BC), which suggests that it was perhaps the first republic in the world, similar to those later found in ancient Greece

The best time to visit Vaishali is between October and March. The weather is cool and pleasant most of the year though summer can be very hot.

The Indian Rupee (INR) is the acceptable form of currency here.

A tourist visa applicable for the entire country (India) is sufficient.

By Air:
The nearset domestic airport is Patna. A flight to Patna [70 kms approx.] and a drive from there is recommended. The roads are very well connected.

International Flight:

There are no direct connecting international flights to Vaishali. The nearest international airport is Kolkata [500 kms approx.]

By Road:
The National Highway Number 77 passes through Vaishali. Vaishali is well connected through National Highways and it is recommended that one hires a vehicle and then visit nearby places.

By Rail:
Hajipur [35 kms] is the nearest railway station from Vaishali on the North eastern line. Regular buses operate form Vaishali to Hajipur.

•       Ashoka Pillar: Emperor Ashoka built The Lion Pillar at Kolhua, Vaishali. It is made of a highly polished single piece of red sandstone. This pillar beside a brick stupa at Kolhua commemorates Buddha's last sermon.
•       Bawan Pokhar Temple: It is an old temple built in the Pala period stands on the northern bank of Bawan Pokhar and enshrines beautiful images of several Hindu gods.
•        Coronation Tank: The coronation tank or Abhishek Pushkarn has the sacred waters that anointed the elected representatives of Vaishali.
  
•         World Peace Pagoda: Next to the coronation tank stands the Japanese temple and the Vishwa Shanti Stupa (World Peace Pagoda) built by the Japanese. A small part of the Buddha's relics found in Vaishali have been enshrined in the foundation and in the chhatra of the Stupa
•         Museum
  

Vaishali is a beautiful place and its rich history attracts pilgrims and followers from the world over. There are a lot of places where one can stay right from good quality, comfortable hotels to luxurious cottages.

•  Patna [56 kms]: The city of Patna lies on the southern bank of the sacred and the mighty Ganges. It is the state capital city of Bihar. At the point where the city is located, the sacred Ganges looks more sea than river-mighty, wide and never-ending.

•  Muzzafarpur [35 kms]: This place is also known as the "Lychee Kingdom", because of the abundance of the sweet fruit known as “lychee”. Muzzafarpur is one of the major towns of North Bihar a short distance from other spots like Vaishali.

• Sonepur [35 kms]: It is situated on the confluence of River Ganga and Gandak, hosts perhaps Asia's biggest animal fair, from Kartik full moon day (October -November). The Fair lasts for almost a fortnight. Millions of visitors all over the world come to this typical fair.

Patna – Muzzafarpur – Vaishali - Sonepur