Vaishali Travel Information
Vaishali has a pst that pre-dates recorded history. It is held that the town derives its name from King Visha, whose heroic deeds are narrated in the Hindu epic Ramayan. However, history records that around the time Pataliputra was the centre of political activity in the Gangetic plains, Vaishali came into existence as centre of Industry and trade. Lying on the north bank of the Ganga, it was the seat of the Republic of Vajji. Vaishali is credited with being the World's First Republic to have a duly elected assembly of representatives and efficient administration.
The Lord Buddha visited Vaishali more than once during his life time and announced his approaching Mahaparinirvana to the great followers he had here.
Hundred years after he attained Mahaparinirvana, it was the venue of the second Buddhist Council. According to one belief, the Jain Tirthankar, Lord Mahavir was born at Vaishali. The Chinese travellers Fa-Hiren and Hieun Tsang also visited this place in early 5th and 7th centuries respectively and wrote about Vaishali.
While talking of the famous men and women associated with Vaishali, Amrapali was the cynosure not only of Vaishali but of the neighbouring kingdoms as well.
Therefore, to avert bloodshed, the parliament of Vaishali declared her to be a Court dancer besides consigning her to lifelong spinsterhood. Later she became a devout Buddhist and served the Lord Buddha.
The Buddha lived in the sixth century BC Mahavir was born in 567 BC and the traveller in Bihar will encounter them both constantly. Rajgir is 10 km south of Nalanda and sacred to the memory of the founder of both Buddhism and Jainism. Lord Buddha spent many months of retreat during the rainy season here, and used to meditate and preach on Griddhkuta, the 'Hill of the Vultures'. Lord Mahavir spent fourteen years of his life at Rajgir and Nalanda. 
Beneath the din and bustle of Patna, the capital of Bihar state, has a fascinating past. And in each chapter of its history, it has been crowned by a new name -Kusumpur, Pushpapur, Pataliputra and Azeemabad. 
Serene and quiet this tiny little village, holiest among holy places isBodhgaya, where the quest of Prince Siddharth was fulfilled after years of seeking the truth and the saga of Buddha began. He attained the supreme enlightenment and became 'The Buddha', the enlightened one. 
human miseries to ascend above worldly problems and to attain transcedental peace through wisdom good conduct and disciplined life. Inside the temple in the main sanctum, on an altar, is a colossal image of Buddha in asitting posture touching the earth by his right hand. In this posture the Buddha accomplished the supreme enlightenment. The statue is of back stone but it has been guilded by the devotees. The entire courtyard of the temple is studded with a large number of varieties of stupas - votive, decorative, memorative. These stupas are of all sizes built during the past 2500 years ago. Most of them are extremely elegant in structural beauty.