The vivacious capital of the Lichhavi republic in ancient times, Vaishali was named after King Vishal. In memory of the primordial city of Vaishali of Mithila, this city has been mentioned in mythological scriptures such as the Mahabharata. The Lichhavi republic is known to be possibly the first republic in the world. Mythological and historical records have mentioned Vaishali in their scriptures various times. Now belonging to the Tirhut division in Bihar, Vaishali used to be a part of the Muzaffarpur district. The city is surrounded by groves of mango and banana as well as extensive rice fields. A Buddhist monastery is found at the edge of the city, the edifice being a proof of the spread of Buddhism in this area. Along with its religious and historical importance, here are a few tourist spots one can visit at Vaishali:
