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A Rendezvous With
Vaishali |
Surrounded
by banana, mango groves and rice fields, the ancient city of Vaishali in the
state of Bihar is a small village now. But excavations in the area have
brought to light an impressive and treasured historical past. The epic
Ramayana tells the story of the heroic King Vishal who ruled here.
Historians believe that one of the world's first democratic republics with
an elected assembly of representatives developed here in the 6th century
B.C. in the time of the Vajjis and the Lichchavis. And while Pataliputra,
capital of the Mauryas and the Guptas, held political influence over the
Gangetic plain, Vaishali was the center for trade and industry. Vaishali, on
the left bank of the Gandak river is both historically and spiritually
significant. An important pilgrim center for both Buddhists and Jains,
Vaishali also attract historians digging the past.
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Things You Can Do
in Vaishali |
» Sightseeing : Vaishali has several places
in its stock for you to appreciate. This ancient town houses several sites,
which will keep every eye occupied throughout the trip.
» Shopping : You can buy the local made items as
souvenirs like - clay toys, Sikki Work handmade products, Lac Bangles, etc.
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Sightseeing in
Vaishali |
» Buddha Stupa - 1 : The exterior of this
stupa which is now in a dilapidated condition has a plain surface.
One-eighth of the sacred ashes of the Lord Buddha were enshrined here in a
stone casket.
» Buddha Stupa - II : Excavation at this site in
1958 led to the discovery of another casket containing the ashes of the Lord
Buddha.
» Shanti Stupa : On the south bank of the Coronation
Tank built by Buddh Vihar Society.
»
Bawan Pokhar Temple : Standing on the northern bank of a tank - Bawan
Pokhar, this is an old temple built in the Pala period and enshrines
beautiful images of several Hindu gods.
» Ashoka Pillar : The Lion Pillar at Kolhua, was
built by Emperor Ashoka. This 18.3 m high pillar is made of a highly
polished single piece of red sandstone, surmounted by a bell shaped capital.
A life-size figure of a lion is placed on top of the pillar. There is a
small tank here known as Ramkund.
» Kundupur (Birth Place of Lord Mahavira) : At a
distance of 4 kms is the Kundupur. It is believed that the Jain Tirthankar,
Lord Mahavira was born here 2550 years ago. Mahavir is said to have spent
the first 22 years of his life here.
» Coronation Tank : Coronation Tank or Abhishekh
Pushkarni, its water were believed to be sacred in the old days and all of
Vaishali's elected representatives were anointed here before their swearing
in ceremony.
» Vaishali Mahotsava (mid-April) : Vaishali
Mahotsava is held to celebrate the birth anniversary of the Jain Thirankar,
Lord Mahavir on the full moon day of the month of "Vaishakh".
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Excursions from
Vaishali |
The
Buddhist circuit in India consists of Sarnath, Kushinagar, Bodhgaya and not
to forget Vaishali. Vaishali, an important ancient city is now just a small
village. Nearby cities from Vaishali are Patna, Rajgir, and Bodhgaya, which
are 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. Since it had a
long and extremely rich history, as it was once the capital of the mighty
Magadh empire. Rajgir, Nalanda, and Bodhgaya are very important sites to
explore, which should be missed. 4 km 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.
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Most Ideal Time to
Visit Vaishali |
Vaishali has an extreme climate. The summers are extremely hot with
the maximum temperature touching 45° C. On the other hand, winters are
cold and the minimum temperature can drop down to 6°C. The best season
to visit this place is winter i.e. October to March.
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Getting There |
» 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 : Hazipur on the north eastern railway is
the nearest railway station 35 kms, which is well connected to major cities
of India like Delhi, Calcutta, Mumbai, Chennai, and Varanasi by regular
trains.
» By Road : Vaishali is well connected by road to
Patna (56 kms.), Muzaffarpur (36 kms.) , Hazipur (35 kms.) and other cities
of North Bihar. There is regular bus service available here.
» Private Vehicles : You can contact us for this, as
we are well established with an extensive number of cars and coaches
(ranging from luxury to budget and between) for the tourists from all over.
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Anchoring in
Vaishali |
Vaishali,
a small village famous for its rich history and culture, is charming and
intriguing. It is counted among the Buddhist circuits along with Kushinagar,
Sarnath and Bodhgaya. It is believed to be the first republic in the world.
Thus, attracting innumerable tourists, who come to see the glory and might
of this age old city, which is now a village.
Vaishali is a small place and to reach Vaishali, one should to take a taxi
or a bus from the airport or the railway station or from any other part of
Bihar or the country. Here, we can help you by providing you pick up from
wherever you want, airport or the railway station and taking you to the
tourist destination and then dropping you to the hotel. For this, all you
need to do is, book with us, we have an array of cars and coaches that
provide personalized services, ensuring that you enjoy every moment for your
trip, comfortably.
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Accommodations |
There are plenty of accommodtion facilities available in Vaishali
for the tourists approaching the place from across the globe.
vaishali
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