Vaishali Buddhism, Guide to Buddhism in Vaishali, Buddhist Pilgrimage in Vaishali, India

The first republic of the world, Vaishali holds special significance for the Buddhist devotees. The ancient city of Vaishali was the place, where Lord Buddha had delivered his last sermons and announced His prospective mahaparinirvana that was to take place in Kushinagar. Known as a host to the second Buddhist council in 383 BCE, Vaishali is also a sacred place for the Jains as Lord Mahavira was born in Vaishali.

General Information

Country : India
State : Bihar
Location : 55 kilometers from Patna, the state capital of Bihar.
Climate : Tropical; Summer - April to June - Hot; Winter - November to February - Cold
Best Time to Visit : October, November and April.
Significance : The Buddha preached His last sermon at Vaishali.
Language : English, Hindi, and Magadhi(regional language).
Buddhist Festivals : The Buddha Jayanti in the month of April/May.
Other Festivals : The Mahavira Jayanti, a Jain festival. Holi, Deepawali and Dussehra for the Hindus.

Major Buddhist Attractions

Vishwa Shanti Stupa : The Vishwa Shanti Stupa, which is also known as the pillar of peace, is the most recent holy attraction for the Buddhists. Built jointly by the Indian and the Japanese government, the Vishwa Shanti Stupa is the highest stupa of the world.
Buddha's Stupas : The Buddha stupa I and II dates back to the 4th century BCE, built of bricks with a casket containing part of the ashes of Lord Buddha.

Other Attractions

Ashokan Pillar : The famous lion pillar, built by the Indian emperor Ashoka is also known as the Ashokan Pillar. The pillar symbolises the golden Indian architecture and is made of a single piece of red sandstone, capped by a high bell shaped capital. A life-size figure of a lion adorns the very top of this amazing pillar.
Coronation Tank : The coronation tank was used by the Lichhavi kings to anoint before being crowned.
Bawan Pokhar Temple : Bawan Pokhar temple is a sacred place for the Hindus. Built during the Pala dynasty, the old temple is situated on the banks of the Bawan lake and contains beautiful images of Hindu Gods and Goddesses.
Chaumukhi Mahadeva : It is a holy place for the Hindus and has a sacred Shiva lingam carved with four faces.
Vaishali Museum : The museum has a small collection of regional handicrafts and artifacts related to the life of Lord Buddha and Lord Mahavira.

Nearby Attractions

Patna : The capital of Bihar, Patna is at a distance of 55 kilometers from Vaishali. Earlier known as Patliputra, Patna attracts the tourists with major sites being Golghar, Har Mandir, Martyr's Memorial, Khuda Baksh Oriental Library and the Patna Museum.

Mode of Transport

Airways - One can take a flight to reach Patna, 55 kilometers from Vaishali as the Loknayak Jai Prakash International Airport is an easy access for the international and national flights. From Patna, one can take up either roadways or railways to reach the holy destination, Vaishali.

Railways - Hajipur is the nearest railhead from Vaishali at a distance of 35 kilometers, from where a taxi, bus or auto rickshaw can be taken to reach the destination.

Roadways - Regular buses are available to reach Vaishali from Patna and other major towns of Bihar and Jharkhand. Besides, one can also hire a private taxi to cover the distance of 55 kilometers from Patna to Vaishali.