Lumbini

The holiest of all holy Buddhist sites in Nepal, Lumbini is the birthplace of Prince Siddhartha, who later became the Buddha. This sacred town was lost to history for nearly 500 years and was only rediscovered in 1896 by German archaeologist, Alois Anton Fuhrer.

Today, restored and transformed into a Buddhist pilgrimage centre, Lumbini is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site that exudes a tranquil atmosphere and is visited by devout Buddhist followers worldwide. For an in-depth tour of Lumbini, a cycle-rickshaw ride will enable visitors to discover monasteries built by various countries with strong Buddhist traditions. The most important site is the Maya Devi Temple, where a simple plaque marks the spot where Queen Maya Devi gave birth to Prince Siddartha.

To the south of this temple is an ancient bathing pond, where the Queen is believed to have first bathed the Prince, and next to it is the Ashokan pillar, which dates back to 249 BC and commemorates King Ashoka’s visit to Lumbini after he became a Buddhist. A short drive from Lumbini is the small town of Tilaurkot, where ruined city walls believed to be the remains of ancient Kapilvastu, and the childhood home of Prince Siddartha await. The ruined ancient stupa bases at Kudan are another reason to visit Lumbini, as it is believed they were originally dedicated to commemorate the Buddha’s meeting with his father after enlightenment. While the monuments in and around Lumbini may not be visually striking, visitors will no doubt soak up the spiritual atmosphere, and those interested in meditation will appreciate the tranquil setting.