Tourist Place in Vaishali | Buddhism in Vaishali

General Information about Vaishali

Country	India
State	Bihar
Location	55 kilometers from Patna
Best time to visit	October to March
Tourist places to visit	Last Sermon place of Buddha,
Significance	Ancient Cave Paintings from time of ancient kingdoms
Nearby Tourist Places	Bodhgaya, Nalanda , Rajgir , Kesaria and Patna
Festivals to visit	Buddha Purnima , Mahavira Jayanti (Jain Festival)

The historical significance of Vaishali begins with the Lichhavi Rulers. It is 55 kilometers from Patna , the state capital of Bihar. Significance of Vaishali is that Lord Buddha announced his Mahaparinirvana in Vaishali. Lord Mahavira, the founder of Buddhism, was born here. This was also the first place the Lord Gautama Buddha came to upon leaving Kapilvastu, and stayed for five years. Here was the place he preached his last sermon to Lichhavis.

It is said to be one of the first of examples of ancient republics in India, and is generally believed to be a great ancient metropolis, although a great deal of detail is not available on the early history of the place. It is also the land where Amrapali hails from.

How to reach Vaishali

Vaishali is hardly 55 KM from Capital City of Bihar; Patna. You can hire private vans from Patna Airport to reach Vaishali. You can also reach by train. Nearest Railway Station to Vaishali is Hazipur (30 Km). Another nearest railway station to Vaishali is Muzaffarpur (40 Km). Road transport is well developed in Vaishali. You can reach by BSRTC buses, tourist buses and private cab.

Buddhism in Vaishali

With respect to Buddhist History, this place holds great importance. In the fifth year after his Enlightenment, Vaishali was suffering from drought and as a result there were many deaths. Buddha was invited to possibly end the suffering of the people, and it is believed that the moment he arrived in the city, a thunderstorm erupted and torrential rains followed. This, and other incidences, such as a monkey offering the Buddha a bowl of honey, soon convinced the population of the Enlightened One’s gravity, and a mass induction of eighty four thousand people into the Buddhist Sangha was conducted in the week that the Buddha stayed there. What adds to the largeness of this occurrence is the fact that it was the first time women were inducted into the Sangha, starting with the Buddha’s maternal aunt. Vaishali was also where the Buddha, in addition to many influential sermons delivered previously, delivered his last one ever. He went on to announce that he would be leaving his earthly body within three months and attain Mahaparinirvana. It also happens to be the site of the Second Buddhist Council, conducted by king Kalasoka in 383 BCE.

Photo Gallery of Tourist Attractions and Nearby Places in Vaishali