East India · Bihar
Vaishali, Bihar
Before you go
One of the eight great Buddhist sites, where the Buddha gave his last sermon; also Mahavira's birthplace by Jain tradition.
About Vaishali
- Inland
Where it is
Vaishali is an archaeological and pilgrimage site in Vaishali district of Bihar, on the fertile plains north of the Ganga, north of Patna.
History
Vaishali was the capital of the Licchavis and of the Vajji confederacy, whose assembly of clans is often cited as one of the world's earliest republics. The Buddha visited it often and preached here on his last journey, the Second Buddhist Council was held here about a century after his death, and Jains revere nearby Kundagrama as the birthplace of Mahavira.
People
Vaishali's villagers speak Bajjika, a dialect whose name recalls the ancient Vajji, and Hindi, and farm a fertile plain known for its bananas and litchis. The Vaishali Mahotsav, held around Mahavir Jayanti, celebrates the site's Buddhist and Jain heritage.
Known for
- The Ashokan pillar and lion capital at Kolhua
- The Relic Stupa of the Buddha
- Vishwa Shanti Stupa
- Kundalpur, Mahavira's birthplace by tradition
- The Vaishali Mahotsav
Did you know?
The Licchavis' share of the Buddha's ashes is believed to have been enshrined in Vaishali's Relic Stupa, where a relic casket was excavated in 1958.
Shrines and sites
- Ashokan pillar and Kolhua stupa
- Relic stupa of the Buddha
- Vishwa Shanti Stupa
- Kundalpur
Traditions
- Buddhist
- Jain
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