What to Wear in Vaishali
Vaishali is a day of walking across open lawns and brick ruins, with shoes off at every stupa. Dress in loose cotton that covers your shoulders and knees, and wear shoes you can slip off in a second.
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The open ruins
There is almost no shade at Kolhua or around the coronation tank, and the ground radiates heat by midday. A wide hat, sunglasses and a long-sleeved cotton shirt are more comfortable than a T-shirt in the sun. Carry water; stalls near the sites are few.
At the stupas and shrines
The Vishwa Shanti Stupa, the new memorial stupa, the Bawan Pokhar temple and the Jain shrines at Basokund are places of worship. Cover your shoulders and knees. Shoes come off before the pagoda terrace and inside temples, and the stone gets very hot on summer afternoons, so a pair of cotton socks helps. At Jain shrines, leather belts and bags are best left in the car.
Footwear
Slip-on sandals or easy walking shoes. You will take them off five or six times in a day. The paths at Kolhua are brick and grass, flat but uneven in places.
By season
- November to February: mornings are cool and often foggy, and nights can be cold. A sweater or light jacket for the early start and evening, cotton for midday.
- March to June: hot, and by May very hot, with dry westerly winds. The lightest cotton, a hat and an early finish.
- July to September: humid, with heavy showers. Quick-dry clothes, an umbrella and sandals with grip — the lawns and brick get slippery.
- October: warm by day, pleasant by evening; light cotton is enough.
What locals wear
In villages around Vaishali, men wear kurta-pyjama or dhoti with a checked gamchha over the shoulder, and women mostly wear cotton sarees. For something to take home, Bihar's tussar silk from Bhagalpur is sold in state handloom shops in Patna.
Packing list
Hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, a scarf that covers your shoulders, socks for hot stone, water bottle, and a light layer from November to February.
Questions
Vaishali — FAQ
Do I need to take my shoes off at the Vaishali stupas?
Yes, at the peace pagoda terrace and at the shrines. The ruins at Kolhua and the Relic Stupa are open grounds where shoes are fine.
Is it cold in Vaishali in winter?
December and January mornings and nights can be cold, often with fog. Days usually warm up. Bring a sweater or jacket.
What should I avoid wearing at the Jain sites?
Short clothes and leather. Cover shoulders and knees, and leave leather belts, bags and wallets outside if you can.