Ashoka Pillar-Vaishali
The ancient city of Vaishali is one of the first cities in the world which adopted a republican form of government by the Lichchhavi rulers. It is also a visiting place for Buddhists because it was here that Buddha delivered his final sermon and announced his impending Nirvana’. In 383 B.C., Vaishali was the venue of the second Buddhist council.
The Ashoka Pillar at Kolhua in Vaishali was erected by the great ancient king Ashoka. The pillar is a monolith, 18 m in length, made up of highly polished red sandstone. It is constructed in a bell-shaped inverted lotus capital. The top has been surmounted by a life-sized lion. This is one of the two Ashoka Pillars that remain in situ. The pillar continued the tradition of the Wheel of Law as the mark of the social and political order laid down by the emperor.
Apart from this, one can also see Ramkund, Coronation Tank and Lotus Tank which display the various incidents that occurred in Buddha’s life as well as the king’s life.
