Vaishali, a small village surrounded by banana and mango groves, is so ancient that even the epic Ramayana describes it and tells the tale of its heroic King Vishal. One of the world's first democratic republics was established here by the Vajjis and the Lichhavis in the 6th century BC. Although Pataliputra, now Patna, was the political capital of the Mauryas and the Guptas, Vaishali was the major centre for trade and industry. Lord Buddha visited this place often and preached his last sermon at near by Kolhua. A hundred years after the departure of the Buddha from this world, the second great Buddhist council was held at Vaishali and two stupas in the city commemorate this event. In the third century BC, Emperor Ashoka erected one of his famous lion pillars here. Lord Mahavir was born on the outskirts of Vaishali and lived in it till he was 22 years of age.

 An important pilgrim centre for both Buddhists and Jains, Vaishali has attracted numerous historians and archaeologists, leading to successful excavations.