According to legend, Vaishali derives its name from King Vishala, a son of Ikshvaku who founded the city.

Vaishali was the capital of the vibrant Licchavi republic and was closely associated with the early histories of both Buddhism and Jainism.

[5] In that period, Vaishali was an ancient metropolis and the capital city of the republic of the Vajji confederation, which covered most of the Himalayan Gangetic region of present-day Bihar.

[8] According to the 2011 census Vaishali district has a population of 3,495,021,[11] roughly equal to the nation of Panama[12] or the US state of Connecticut.

[14] In 1997, the district became home to the Barela Salim Ali Zubba Saheni Wildlife Sanctuary, which has an area of 2 km2 (0.8 sq mi).