District - Vaishali Commissionery - Tirhut Headquarter - Hajipur Sub-division - Hajipur, Mahua, Mahnar. Population - 27,12,389 (28 lacs.) Area - 2036 Sq.Km. Sea level - 52 Meter Temperature - Summer - 44°C - 20°C Winter - 22°C - 5°C Rainfall - 120 cm. Best season - Nov. - Feb. Road Route - 65 Km. from Patna.
(36 Km. from Muzaffarpur, 137 Km. from Pawapuri,
145 Km. from Rajgir). Rail Route - Main Railway Station - Hajipur
(35 km.)
Nearest Railway Station - Muzaffarpur (35 Km.) Air Route - Main Airport - Patna (Gaya, Varanasi
Direct Link)
Nearest Airport - Gaya (12 Km.)
In Buddhist period (6th Century BC –
7th Century BC), in Kushan Dynasty (2nd Century BC –
1st Century AD), in Mauryan Dynasty (4th Century BC –
2nd Century AD), in Gupta Dynasty (4th Century AD –
6th Century AD), in Pal Dynasty (8th Century AD- 12th Century
AD) — this region was the main land of famous dynasties
& great kings of Ancient Indian history.
On the northern bank of river ‘Ganga' (Ganges), Vaishali
- was the important Trade Centre in 'North India'. This trade
centre was also unique because of on the southern bank of
river ‘Ganga’, Patliputra - was a very important
'political centre' in India. In 6th century BC this place
was the capital of 'Lichhavi Sangh' - which in considered
as Ancient & first Democratic State in the world. Ancient
Vaishali is a very important place for Buddism & Jainism
also. At this place, Lord Buddha & Lord Mahavira spent
great parts of their lives. Now it is an important tourist
place of 'Suffi-circuit' & 'Ramayan circuit' as well.
Vaishali is an internationally important tourist place for
archaeological sites also. Many archaeological sites were
disclosed by scientific & archaeological excavation in
the years 1861-64, 1903-04, 1913-14, 1950, 1958-62 and 1976.
Archaeological remains are preserved in Vaishali Museum &
Patna Museum.
Chinese traveller Fa-hian (405 AD - 411 AD) and Hiuen-Tsiang
(629 AD - 645 AD) have described Vaishali in great detail.
Places of Tourist Interests
Buddha Relic Place (Lichhavi Stupa) Location: 35 Km from Hajipur,
district headquarter of Vaishali, beside 'Abhishek Pushkarini
tank. Importance: Now
this holy place is known as 'Buddha Asthi-Kalash Asthal'.
Lichhavi's built (in 5th Century BC) Lichhavi Stupa with the
8th part of holy mortal remains (Relic) of Lord Buddha, in
Vaishali, at this place.In 1958 - 1962, in an archaeological
excavation this Stupa came into light. The Relic Casket was
discovered in this excavation. The casket contained, besides
the ashes of Lord Buddha mixed with earth, a piece of Conch,
pieces of Beads, a thin Golden Leaf and a copper punch-marked
Coin. Since 1972, the holy "Relic of Lord Buddha' has
been preserved in Patna Museum. This excavation also revealed
that the Stupa at Vaishali, was enlarged & repaired 3
times in between 4entury BC - 1st century AC, during Maurya,
Shung & Kushan dynasty, which is also seen today.
Historical fact: Lord Buddha
attained Mahaparinirvana at Kushinagar (U.P.); the mortal
remains of Tathagat were kept in the 'parliament house’,
of the Republic of Mallas. However, many republics and states
desired to possess a portion of his mortal remains on the
basis of their relation & closeness with the Blessed one.According
to the Mahaparinibban-Sutta
of Digha Nikaya, the mortal remains of Lord Buddha were divided
into 8 parts & given to; 1. King Ajatshatru of Magadh
(situated at Rajgir, Nalanda), 2. The Mallas of Kushinagar
(U.P.), 3. The Mallas of Pava (Saran, Bihar), 4. The Brahman
of Vetha Dipa (at Bettiah, Bihar), 5. The Bulis of Alakappa
(Saran, Bihar), 6. The Sakyas of Kapilvastu (U.P.), the Koliyas
of Ramagram (Nepal) & 8. The Republic of the Licchavi
of Vaishali (Buddha Asthi-Kalash Asthal).
Drona, the Brahman who distributed the mortal remains of Lord
Buddha, Kept with himself the Tumba (pitcher), which contained
the 'Corporeal Remains'. Drona built Drona Stupa (at Siwan,
Bihar) on this holy pitcher.
After the distribution, the Moriyas of Pippalivana (East Champaran,
Bihar) came and claimed their share in the Holy Relic. They
got only the remaining Angara (the burnt wood) and built the
Angaraka Stupa (at Lauria Nandangarh, Champaran, Bihar). Drona
Stupa & Angaraka Stupa are important as the mortal remains
was divided into 8 parts after the 'Mahaparinirvana of Lord
Buddha'.
Ashoka Stupa & Pillars
As per Buddhist literature, King Ashoka (during his reign
in 273 BC - 329 BC), after 270 years, after Mahaparinirvana,
in 543 BC, collected three-fourth mortal remains of Lord Buddha
from 7 Stupas (relic casket) - except the Koliyas of Ramagram
(situated at Nepal) - and divided mortal remains into 84,000
parts & established & built Ashoka Stupa & Ashoka
Pillars on the Nirvana - path of Lord Buddha from Lumbini
to Kushinagar. Most of the Ashoka Stupas vanished in the 2500
years time- period (because most of the stupas were built
by soil). Now, in Bihar, we can see 4 Ashoka Stupas also.
1. Ashoka Stupa (at Lauria Areraj, East Champaran), 2. Ashoka
Stupa (at Rampurva, West Champaran), 3. Ashoka Stupa (at New
Rajgir, Nalanda), 4. Stupa (at Chakramdas Village, Vaishali).
Other Important Stupa in Bihar
(in the memory of Lord Buddha)
Also, in Bihar, we can see, Important Stupas, in the memory
of major incidents of Lord Buddha's life, built by different
dynasties (1st century BC - 2nd century AD) in Indian History,These
are—
Kolhua Buddha Stupa, (in
the memory of main desciples Anand of Lord Buddha, by Republic
of Licchavis) in Kolhua, Vaishali.
Amrapali Stupa (in the
memory of one of the follower - great dancer Amrapali of
Magadh Dynasty in Tola-dargaah village, Vaishali.
Sujata Stupa - (in a major
incident before Nirvana - built & developed by 3 Dynasties)
in Bodhgaya, Gaya.
Sariputra stupa (in the
memory of one of the main desciple of Lord Buddha) in the
Nalanda Open University ruins area, Nalanda.
Ajatsatru Buddha Stupa (in
the memory of main desciple Anand of Lord Buddha) by Ajatsatru,
King of Magadh), in Rajgir, Nalanda.
Kesaria Buddha Stupa (in
a major incident before Mahaparinirvana, by Republics of
Licchavis, Vaishali (after Lichhavi Stupa at Vaishali) in
Kesaria, West Champaran.
Vishwa Shanti Stupa Location: 35 Km. from district
headquarter, Hajipur. Beside Abhishek Pushkarini Pond, Vaishali.
Importance: Buiilt by Indosan
Nipponji, Japan. 146 Feet High, 120 feet in diameter, claimed
to be the highest Buddha Stupa (Rajgir, Vishwa Shanti Stupa-120
feet high) - in World. On 23rd Oct.1996, then President Dr.
Shankar Dayal Sharma, inagurated this 'Buddha Stupa'.
Ashok Pillar (Kolhua) Location: 3.5 Km north-west
from Vishwa Shanti Stupa, at Kolhua. Importance: Built by King Ashoka
(249 century BC), 24.5 feet high (43.5 feet high from base)
polished, single piece, of red sand stone – Ashoka Pillar
is the main attraction of “Maurya Dynasty’ in
Vaishali. A life size figure of a lion is placed on the top
of the pillar.
King Ashoka - built 30 known Ashoka Pillars. 5 Ashoka Pillars
are situated in Bihar as - one Ashoka Pillar in Kolhua, Vaishali,
two Ashoka pillars in Rampurva, W. Champaran, one Ashoka Pillar
in Lauria Nandangarh, W. Champaran & one Ashoka Pillar
in Areraj, E. Champaran. (Ashoka Pillar of Kolhua, Vaishlai
& Lauria Nandangarh, E. Champara – are the only
developed spots).
Anand Stupa
Near Ashoka Pillar, a Buddha Stupa was built by Licchavi's
on the mortal remains of Anand, the main desciple of Lord
Buddha. This stupa was enlarged & repaired in Maurya Dynasty
& other in different time period. According to ‘Divya
Vadan’ king Ashok had developed this place & spent
10 million golden coins.
Markat-hhrid
Beside Ashoka Pillar, on the south, there is an ancient pond
now known as “Ram kund” – is related to
Buddhist period Merkathhrid (near two storeyed shelter-house
of Lord Buddha). Ashoka had built & established 'Pillar
& Stupa' beside this ‘Merkathhrid’. Now we
can see the 'ruins of this ancient shelter house'.
Two other Stupas
0.5 Km from Ashoka Pillar, Kolhua - there are two ancient
undeveloped, Stupas are situated in Bakhra village, Thana
Saria & district Muzaffarpur. One stupa is 183 feet in
diameter & 25 feet high & the other is 179 feet in
diameter & 23 feet high.
Amrapali Stupa / Pir Ka Mazar Location: 35 Km from district
headquarter Hajipur, 300 meters from 'Raja Vishal Ka Garh',
at Tola-Gargaah village of Vaishali Panchayat. Importance: A Mound of 24 feet
high & diameter of 140 feet. Now this place is known as
'Pir Ka Mazar'. In Buddhist
period, this place was the Mango-Garden (Amravana) of the
great dancer Ambapali (Amrapali) of Magadh dynasty. According
to Mahparinibbansuta, Lord Buddha stayed in this Amarvana
— in this list visit of Vaishali. On this holy place
Buddha announced his Mahaparinirvana after staying here for
a few days, he went to Pava (Siwan). On his last visit to
Vaishali - Knowing the news, Amrapali, the great dancer, came
in this Amravana (mango garden) and invited Lord Buddha &
his desciples for dinner.She gifted this Mango-Garden to the
'Bhikshuk Sangh' in the regard of Buddha & also became
his 'first female desciple' - at this time. After this Mahaparinirvana
(543 BC) in the memory of Lord Buddha, Stupa was built at
the place of Amravana which was later, known as 'Ambapali
stupa'. According to Fa-hian (405 AD - 411 AC) he saw on this
place the 'ruins of Ambapali stupa' at 3 lee (300 meters)
of 1st Parliament house (Raja Vishal Ka Garh) of Vijji sangh.
Now this place is known as 'Pir ka Mazar'. Mausoleum of Hazrat
Makhdum Shah Kazin (Shekh Kazin Suttari), who came here, in
15th century AD, and spread siffism.
Chakramdas (Stupa) Loacation: 35 Km. from district
headquarter Hajipur, South from Abhishek Puskarini at Chakramdas
village. Importance: In Buddhist period,
on this place there was a 'holy tank' near to a 'Shelter-House'
(Chapaal Chaitya)
where Lord Buddha walked & took shelter on his Vaishali
trip. Lord Buddha liked this place becaue this place was also
related to Buddha's past life. According to Hiuen-Tsiang,
Lord Buddha told his past life story to his desciples that
- in the past life he, with his thousand brothers, surrendered
their arms in front of his mother. In the past life he was
'Saharsha Buddha'. In the decade of '60's, K.P. Jaysawal Institute,
Patna excavated this place. In the excavation many rare antiquities,
styli of bone, punch mark & cast coins, seals & sealings,
terracotta etc. were found.
this holy place is known as 'Buddha Asthi-Kalash Asthal'.
Lichhavi's built (in 5th Century BC) Lichhavi Stupa with the
8th part of holy mortal remains (Relic) of Lord Buddha, in
Vaishali, at this place.In 1958 - 1962, in an archaeological
excavation this Stupa came into light. The Relic Casket was
discovered in this excavation. The casket contained, besides
the ashes of Lord Buddha mixed with earth, a piece of Conch,
pieces of Beads, a thin Golden Leaf and a copper punch-marked
Coin. Since 1972, the holy "Relic of Lord Buddha' has
been preserved in Patna Museum. This excavation also revealed
that the Stupa at Vaishali, was enlarged & repaired 3
times in between 4entury BC - 1st century AC, during Maurya,
Shung & Kushan dynasty, which is also seen today.
Mahaparinibban-Sutta
of Digha Nikaya, the mortal remains of Lord Buddha were divided
into 8 parts & given to; 1. King Ajatshatru of Magadh
(situated at Rajgir, Nalanda), 2. The Mallas of Kushinagar
(U.P.), 3. The Mallas of Pava (Saran, Bihar), 4. The Brahman
of Vetha Dipa (at Bettiah, Bihar), 5. The Bulis of Alakappa
(Saran, Bihar), 6. The Sakyas of Kapilvastu (U.P.), the Koliyas
of Ramagram (Nepal) & 8. The Republic of the Licchavi
of Vaishali (Buddha Asthi-Kalash Asthal).
period, this place was the Mango-Garden (Amravana) of the
great dancer Ambapali (Amrapali) of Magadh dynasty. According
to Mahparinibbansuta, Lord Buddha stayed in this Amarvana
— in this list visit of Vaishali. On this holy place
Buddha announced his Mahaparinirvana after staying here for
a few days, he went to Pava (Siwan). On his last visit to
Vaishali - Knowing the news, Amrapali, the great dancer, came
in this Amravana (mango garden) and invited Lord Buddha &
his desciples for dinner.She gifted this Mango-Garden to the
'Bhikshuk Sangh' in the regard of Buddha & also became
his 'first female desciple' - at this time. After this Mahaparinirvana
(543 BC) in the memory of Lord Buddha, Stupa was built at
the place of Amravana which was later, known as 'Ambapali
stupa'. According to Fa-hian (405 AD - 411 AC) he saw on this
place the 'ruins of Ambapali stupa' at 3 lee (300 meters)
of 1st Parliament house (Raja Vishal Ka Garh) of Vijji sangh.
Now this place is known as 'Pir ka Mazar'. Mausoleum of Hazrat
Makhdum Shah Kazin (Shekh Kazin Suttari), who came here, in
15th century AD, and spread siffism. 
where Lord Buddha walked & took shelter on his Vaishali
trip. Lord Buddha liked this place becaue this place was also
related to Buddha's past life. According to Hiuen-Tsiang,
Lord Buddha told his past life story to his desciples that
- in the past life he, with his thousand brothers, surrendered
their arms in front of his mother. In the past life he was
'Saharsha Buddha'. In the decade of '60's, K.P. Jaysawal Institute,
Patna excavated this place. In the excavation many rare antiquities,
styli of bone, punch mark & cast coins, seals & sealings,
terracotta etc. were found.