Ashok Pillar
Ashok Pillar
4.5
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4.5
29 reviews
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keshwanand kaushik
Mumbai, India158 contributions
Apr 2024 • Friends
Historical place, first capital of India. Nice place to visit with family members and friends. Entry fee is 25 for each person. It is maintained as a park by the Bihar government and ASI.
Written 16 April 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sea Dweller
Dubai, United Arab Emirates6,943 contributions
Feb 2018 • Friends
Vaishali - a city in ancient India, in the VI century BC. It served as the capital of the state of the Lichkhavs - one of the first states in the world with a democratic republican form of government.
King Ashoka, after the massacre of Kalinga, erected one of his famous Ashokan pillar in Vaishali, which was to memorialize the last sermon of Lord Buddha, that took place here. But the difference between this Ashoka Pillar and other Asoka pillars is that, this one has only one lion capital. There is a life like figure of a lion flawlessly engraved, at the top of the pillar facing north, believed to be the direction of Lord Buddha's last voyage. A height of 18.3 m.
Near the stupa are the ruins of the monastery and two stupas. All the facilities are in very good condition. Everything around is very clean. Many thanks to the authorities for taking so much care of the monument.
King Ashoka, after the massacre of Kalinga, erected one of his famous Ashokan pillar in Vaishali, which was to memorialize the last sermon of Lord Buddha, that took place here. But the difference between this Ashoka Pillar and other Asoka pillars is that, this one has only one lion capital. There is a life like figure of a lion flawlessly engraved, at the top of the pillar facing north, believed to be the direction of Lord Buddha's last voyage. A height of 18.3 m.
Near the stupa are the ruins of the monastery and two stupas. All the facilities are in very good condition. Everything around is very clean. Many thanks to the authorities for taking so much care of the monument.
Written 1 April 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
globetrotter
Dubai, United Arab Emirates1,507 contributions
Jan 2016 • Solo
About a 100 years after the Buddha's final nirvana, Vesali was the scene of the second Buddhist Council to settle questions on the Dhamma and Vinaya. In the first 500 years of Buddha's nirvana, the site was popular with pilgrims as it housed the Buddha's alm which was first enshrined at Kesariya. Subsequent invasions by the Muslims in the 13th AD means that the current alm is located in a small Muslim Shrine at Kandahar in Afghanistan.
The Lion pillar - attributed to Emperor Ashoka is still intact and looks magnificent next to a large Stupa built by Ashoka himself. During excavation, a relic chamber was discovered an in contained a highly polished stone relic casket.
The Lion pillar - attributed to Emperor Ashoka is still intact and looks magnificent next to a large Stupa built by Ashoka himself. During excavation, a relic chamber was discovered an in contained a highly polished stone relic casket.
Written 6 January 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
M s
Bodh Gaya, India1,228 contributions
Jan 2014 • Business
Great King Ashoka built the Lion Pillar at Kolhua, Vaishali. It is 18.3 meter in height. A life-size figure of a lion is placed on top of the pillar, that is the specialty of this pillar.There is brick stupa(commemorates Buddha's last sermon) beside this pillar at Kolhua, Vaishali .
Written 10 December 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rak990
Bhopal, India229 contributions
Oct 2013 • Friends
The world outside Vaishali in Bihar knows this place mostly due to its association with famous and beautiful courtesan Amrapali who was forced into this business through a state order in 6th century BC, more than 2600 years ago from now. She was in the centre of feud between Vaishali and Magadha, two states on each side of river Ganga. In a film of the same name (Aamrapali), Vaijantimala has played the role of lady while Sunil Dutt has played as Ajatshatru, king of Magadha.
But my recent visit to Vaishali sites made me aware of many other facts. Vaishali is considered the first and oldest republic of the world. It had its own parliament and rulers were elected. Archaeological evidences are there scattered at many places and so are literary sources, mostly Buddhist texts, including a whole book on Amrapali in Pali language, used at that time for writing Buddhist chronicles.
Though considered and proved oldest, Vaishali was not the only republic at that point of time in India. There were at least 16 mahajanpadas (republics) in northern part of the country. In fact, Buddha’s father was also an elected head of Kapilvastu mahajanpad. Incidentally, all janpad heads were invited in Buddha’s marriage and it is believed that even Amrapali was invited for a dance show in this ceremony. (Kapilvastu is named after an ancient sage Kapil to whom a school of thought called Sankhya Darshan is attributed. Some Buddhist text even claim that Buddha was Kapil in his previous birth.
Vaishali also has some locations where Buddha spent his time because it was associated with his previous births. He had his last sermon in Vaishali and he announced that he would go for Mahaparinirvan (ending his mortal remains) from here. He went to Kushinagar, not very far from here, and died. All along the path there are places where stupas and monasteries are there, most of whom are still under excavations or undiscovered.
It was in Vaishali, where he met Amrapali. She invited him to her heaven- like mango orchard (where she is probably cremated also as there is an ancient stupa in her name and place was visited by Fahiyan, a famous Chinese traveler many centuries later) where he went after initial inhibitions. Amrapali became arhant (Buddhist monk). She is also considered as ‘first female disciple (monk)’ of Buddha in some texts.
When Buddha was cremated, his ashes were divided into 8 parts. One part came to Vaishali and one stupa was built on here. It is still there and I visited that site. Only ground level is seen now and urn-pot, containing Buddha’s ashes (ashes mixed with soil, some beads, some coins etc.) is kept in Patna Museum today. When ashes were no more available for distribution, some lesser kingdoms even collected burnt wood from Buddha’s pyre and one such stupa built over such woods exist in northern part of Bihar even today.
A year later, after death of Buddha, first Buddhist council was assembled in Rajgir (capital of Magadh before shifting to Patna) and rules of Buddhist order were codified. After 100 odd years of the first council, the second council was organized in Vaishali when one monk found that rules were not being followed and there was need to rework on those rules. The third one was organized in Patna during Ashoka rein at a site called Kumharar. Further councils were held in Burma and Srilanka.
Presently, the site most visited in Vaishali, is ruins of monastery where Buddha had spent some time and a stupa of Monk Anand is built on his relics. Just besides stands a tall Ashoka Pillar, perhaps the only intact pillar which stands as originally placed.
Vaishali connects ancient history to modern, Buddhism to the world and ancient republic to modern democracy……stay connected.
But my recent visit to Vaishali sites made me aware of many other facts. Vaishali is considered the first and oldest republic of the world. It had its own parliament and rulers were elected. Archaeological evidences are there scattered at many places and so are literary sources, mostly Buddhist texts, including a whole book on Amrapali in Pali language, used at that time for writing Buddhist chronicles.
Though considered and proved oldest, Vaishali was not the only republic at that point of time in India. There were at least 16 mahajanpadas (republics) in northern part of the country. In fact, Buddha’s father was also an elected head of Kapilvastu mahajanpad. Incidentally, all janpad heads were invited in Buddha’s marriage and it is believed that even Amrapali was invited for a dance show in this ceremony. (Kapilvastu is named after an ancient sage Kapil to whom a school of thought called Sankhya Darshan is attributed. Some Buddhist text even claim that Buddha was Kapil in his previous birth.
Vaishali also has some locations where Buddha spent his time because it was associated with his previous births. He had his last sermon in Vaishali and he announced that he would go for Mahaparinirvan (ending his mortal remains) from here. He went to Kushinagar, not very far from here, and died. All along the path there are places where stupas and monasteries are there, most of whom are still under excavations or undiscovered.
It was in Vaishali, where he met Amrapali. She invited him to her heaven- like mango orchard (where she is probably cremated also as there is an ancient stupa in her name and place was visited by Fahiyan, a famous Chinese traveler many centuries later) where he went after initial inhibitions. Amrapali became arhant (Buddhist monk). She is also considered as ‘first female disciple (monk)’ of Buddha in some texts.
When Buddha was cremated, his ashes were divided into 8 parts. One part came to Vaishali and one stupa was built on here. It is still there and I visited that site. Only ground level is seen now and urn-pot, containing Buddha’s ashes (ashes mixed with soil, some beads, some coins etc.) is kept in Patna Museum today. When ashes were no more available for distribution, some lesser kingdoms even collected burnt wood from Buddha’s pyre and one such stupa built over such woods exist in northern part of Bihar even today.
A year later, after death of Buddha, first Buddhist council was assembled in Rajgir (capital of Magadh before shifting to Patna) and rules of Buddhist order were codified. After 100 odd years of the first council, the second council was organized in Vaishali when one monk found that rules were not being followed and there was need to rework on those rules. The third one was organized in Patna during Ashoka rein at a site called Kumharar. Further councils were held in Burma and Srilanka.
Presently, the site most visited in Vaishali, is ruins of monastery where Buddha had spent some time and a stupa of Monk Anand is built on his relics. Just besides stands a tall Ashoka Pillar, perhaps the only intact pillar which stands as originally placed.
Vaishali connects ancient history to modern, Buddhism to the world and ancient republic to modern democracy……stay connected.
Written 31 May 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Footprints727663
987 contributions
Aug 2018 • Family
I went to Ashok Pillar. This pillar was put up in the 3rd century and its structure is influenced by the Greco Buddhist style. A remnant of Sanchi's ancient history, this pillar still stands strong and appears newly built despite being centuries old. It is great place to go.
Written 12 August 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
yashwantjaiswal31
Muzaffarpur, India129 contributions
June 2018 • Friends
This places bears the historical evidence of Maurya's. Vaishali has some good places to visit like kundgram, vishwa shanti stupa, ashok pillar. Ashok pillar is under archaeological survey so you have to pay money. If you are a history lover then you can go. This place need to be maintained.
Written 9 June 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mr. Himanshu Sinha
Pune, India1,046 contributions
Feb 2018 • Family
Vaishali is one of the ancient city in India, one of the most beautiful city. This Pillar was made by Samrat Ashoka as his winning symbol.
Bhagwan Buddha has delivered his last sermon here, So this place is very important in the History.
One of the must visit site in Vaishali, Bihar.
Bhagwan Buddha has delivered his last sermon here, So this place is very important in the History.
One of the must visit site in Vaishali, Bihar.
Written 4 March 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gaspard N
Goa, India942 contributions
Nov 2016 • Solo
In this place Lord Buddha delivered his last sermon. There is a hudge stupa and a well restored Ashokan pillar, and the famous Monkey tank were local children like to jump and swim. This place is crowded by pilgrims. At the entrance you can buy a small wooden reproduction of the Ashokan pillar, as well as other souvenirs.
Written 13 January 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Navjot S
Jalandhar, India277 contributions
Apr 2016 • Solo
Vaishali-: 50km away from Patna , considered oldest republic of the world. Magnificently built Ashokan pillar is one of the main attraction, it is also considered as Birth place of Lord. Mahavira. Not to be missed place if one visits Patna. famous dancer and one the most beautiful lady of its time Amarapali was made nun here by Guatama Buddha. Guatam Buaddha spent many rainy seasons in Viashlai. it is considered as oldest republic, many texts of Buddhism, Jainism and even Vishnu- Purana mention the references to Vaishali.
Written 17 April 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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