Tirtha Atlas

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Ancient · Buddhist · India

Relic Stupa and Ashokan Pillar, Vaishali

वैशाली

Vaishali, Bihar · 25.9864°, 85.1269°

Buddha (relic stupa)Licchavi; Mauryan (Ashoka)Brick stupa; polished sandstone pillar with lion capitalBuddhist circuit
Sacred since
500 BCE
first attestation / structure
Standing structure
c. 5th–3rd c. BCE
Licchavi; Mauryan (Ashoka)

History & significance

At Vaishali the Licchavis enshrined one of the eight shares of the Buddha's relics in a brick stupa, among the earliest archaeologically known; nearby at Kolhua stands one of the best-preserved Ashokan pillars, 11 m tall and topped by a single lion.

Sthala katha — the legend

Tradition says the Buddha gave the Licchavis his alms bowl here and conjured the illusion of a river in spate to turn them back.

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Related sites

Kesaria Stupa
Kesariya, East Champaran · India
present structure Pala, 8th–12th c.; origin c. 250 BCE
Griddhakuta (Vulture Peak)
Rajgir · India
associated with the Buddha's lifetime; structures undated
Mahaparinirvana Temple, Kushinagar
Kushinagar · India
present temple 1956, over ancient stupa remains
Jetavana, Shravasti
Shravasti · India
built in the Buddha's lifetime by Anathapindika
Sankissa
Sankisa, Farrukhabad · India
3rd c. BCE (Ashokan pillar and stupa)
Kaushambi (Kosambi)
Kosam, Kaushambi · India
fortified city, 8th c. BCE – 2nd c. CE

Sources

coordinates: wikipedia-2026-08-27 · sources retrieved 2026-08-26 · dynasty page: Licchavi; Mauryan (Ashoka)