Vaishali Tourism And Travel Guide

Vaishali has been mentioned in our epic Mahabharata. Moreover, historically Vaishali has a place in the world for being the centre where democracy had its roots in 600BC. At the time when Buddha was born, Vaishali was known well for being the original republic of the world. Tourism in Vaishali is hence very rich, since this was the place where Buddha delivered his last sermon before he attained enlightenment. A travel guide of Vaishali is placed below for all those who would like to see one of India’s most famed places. 

By Road:

Bihar’s roads are getting rebuilt all over the state. However, Vaishali is only about 60km away from Patna and 37km from Muzaffarpur. Bodhgaya, a premium destination for tourists is about 163km away from Vaishali. Therefore, depending upon where you are coming from, it is not too long a ride to Vaishali although you may find diversions due to road maintenance. It is however going to take you ten hours to cover the distance of 642km from Kolkata and more than 14 hours to traverse the 870km distance from Cuttack.

By Rail:

Hajipur Junction is your best bet if you wish to reach Vaishali by rail. Hajipur happens to be one of the bigger cities of Bihar and the station is well connected with Muzaffarpur, Chhapra and Barauni. If you are travelling from Delhi you will have 85 trains to choose from in order to reach Hajipur. Since Hajipur is only 44km away from Vaishali you can travel this distance in either a bus or a taxi.

By Air:

Patna airport is the nearest air connection for Vaishali since the city does not have any airport of its own. Patna airport or Jai Prakash Narain Airport as it is called is only about 60km away from Vaishali and this distance can be quite easily covered in either a taxi or a bus. Patna, on the other hand, is well connected with most of the major cities of the country such as Hyderabad, Ranchi, Goa and Chennai. Patna is also an international airport and if you are flying into India you could check out whether to take a flight to Patna or if that is not possible, to take a flight to Delhi or Mumbai and thereafter take a domestic flight to Patna.

Vaishali has a tropical climate. Summer is long, dry and very hot. Monsoon can bring heavy rains that tend to flood the streets sometimes. Winter is cold and some years could be bitterly cold as well.

Summer (March-June):

The hot weather of Vaishali is most uncomfortable and lasts till the end of June while it starts in the month of March. May is the hottest month while June temperature could be between 36° and 27°C. The temperature starts reducing by August due to high velocity winds and the odd shower. It is best to avoid summer for touring Vaishali. If you happen to visit Vaishali in summer, do carry light cotton wear with you.

Monsoon (Mid June-October):

Monsoon has been erratic all over Bihar, and Vaishali is no exception. It was way back in the year 2007 that Bihar had a good monsoon season. Vaishali receives around 214cm rain each year depending upon local conditions. While monsoon should set in around May, there are years when monsoon does not arrive till late July. July and August are the two months that Vaishali receives good amount of rains. Once again the monsoon season should be preferably avoided by visitors.

Winter (November-March):

Winters in Vaishali starts in November and generally end around March. Visitors enjoy winters in Vaishali because you can walk around throughout the day without feeling tired. The sun is also fairly comfortable although days are bright and warm. It is the night time that one must be careful about. Nights in Vaishali can be fairly chilly and temperature as low as 0.7°C has been recorded.

Enjoy the Vaishali Mahotsav: 

If you are planning to visit Vaishali it is a good idea to visit the beautiful place during Vaishali Mahotsav period. This festival is held each year during the Hindu Baisakh Purnima period which is some time in the middle of April. The Festival has a cultural angle to it and is organised very well. The period is auspicious since it is in this time of the year that Lord Mahavir was born in a village called Kundalpur which is very close to Vaishali. Incidentally, Lord Buddha blessed Vaishali by visiting the place twice in the 3rd Century BC.

Visit the Ramchaura Mandir: 

Dedicated to Ram, the Ramchaura Mandir is located near Helabazar in Hajipur in Bihar. This temple is a Hindu Temple that was made to celebrate the visit by Lord Ram who passed the place when he was going to Janakpur. You will find his footprints here and these are worshipped. During the Ram Navami period when the birth anniversary of Lord Ram is celebrated all over the country each year, a small fair is organized and the anniversary is celebrated with great fervour.

Participate in Sonepur Cattle Fair: 

Sonepur is a tiny place right opposite Hajipur and it is here that each year some time during the months of October and November the Sonepur Cattle Fair is held for a fortnight. This fair is the biggest such animal fair in the Asian continent and what makes the fair more interesting is the fact that not only are diverse animals traded here but also items such as wooden furniture and winter garments are sold as well.

Offer Prayers at Baithakji Hajipur: 

Baithakji Hajipur is among the oldest temples in Hajipur. Interestingly, our country has some 84 such Mahaprabhuji Baithaks all over. These Baithaks gained their prominence because of Shri Mahaprabhuji, who during the 52 odd years of his life, toured the country three times bare feet, spreading the fine principles of Pushtimarg. Today there are disciples of the Aacharya who go around the country visiting these baithaks that are located in remote forests and mountains.

Visit Bateshwar Nath Temple:

Bateshwar Nath Temple is perhaps the oldest of all the temples in Bihar. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, this temple is located in the eastern parts of Hajipur in Bihar. According to folklore this temple is said to have been excavated from within a thousand years old banyan tree. The Shiva temple celebrates Vasant Panchami every year and a small fair is also organized during the Maha Shivratri festival. You will find this place very calm and serene.

The Iconic Kaun Haara Ghat:

The Kaun Haara Ghat is an iconic ghat of Ganga-Gandak where both the rituals of worshipping and cremation have been performed over centuries. There is an interesting legend to the name of this ghat. The legend goes back to Lord Vishnu who wanted to save his favourite disciple Gaja or elephant from the Graah, the crocodile who was pulling the former deep inside the water of the river. Lord stepped in and saved the elephant by killing the crocodile thereby releasing him from subsequent births and death cycle.

Surprisingly enough there are several good restaurants in Vaishali. One can try out The Terrace which serves Indian and Chinese food and according to customers it is a “decent party place”. Then there is The Clove which is “one of the best in Vaishali” and where banquets are held as well. You can also try Spice Garden that serves both Asian and Indian foods. This place may be slightly far off in Muzaffarpur which is almost 30km away. Try Buddha Fun and Food Village which is said to be very popular for its chicken tandoori according to its customers. 

Vaishali does not appear to be a popular place for shopping. It is better for visitors to go to Patna which is only 36km away. One can visit the P&M Mall there where there are coffee shops and movie theatres besides plenty of outlets for you to do your shopping. Of course there will be some shops in Vaishali where one could buy souvenirs but these shops are not listed online.