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Lumbini Travel Guide: Visiting Birthplace of the Buddha

March 23, 2016January 13, 2020 Travel Nepal Comments(149)

In the full moon day of May, in 623 BC, Maya Devi was passing through the Lumbini Garden, in south-western Nepal. She bathed in the pond and stood beneath a tree clutching the branch, and then gave birth to Siddhartha Gautama. Siddhartha was born in the Royal Shakya dynasty, he would be king one day, however, at the age of 29, he left his family. He was 40, when he understood the Four Noble Truth and the Eightfold Path, and became the Buddha. The Buddha taught the basics of Buddhism for forty years. He died in Kushinagar, India.

Lumbini is a small town in southern Nepal, and 300 km west of Kathmandu, the capital city. There are many religious and archaeological sites in and around Lumbini. The history of Lumbini is at least 26 hundred years old.

Lumbini Master Plan designed by Prof. Kenzo Tange of Japan was approved by the Government of Nepal in 1978. The constructions are still underway. Recently Nepal government has proposed Chinese government to build rail road and link Lumbini with Tibet. Indian government has also agreed to extend railways and link Indian city Gorakhpur with Lumbini.

Visit Lumbini

Traveling to Lumbini is a wonderful experience.

Begin your Lumbini tour from Lumbini Museum. In Lumbini Museum you can see ancient coins, religious manuscripts, and stone and metal sculptures. On the other side of Lumbini Museum, there is Lumbini International Research Institute, which facilities study of Buddhism and other religions. There are over 30 thousands books on religion and philosophy, and art and architecture in the Research Institute. Nepal government is working on a plan to establish Buddhist University in Lumbini.

When you pass through Friendship Bridge, you enter Monastic Zones. There are 10 monasteries in the eastern side and 29 monasteries in the western side. Constructions of some monasteries are still underway.

Theravada Monastic Zone

In the Theravada Monastic Zone you can see monasteries built by Government of Thailand, Maha Bodhi Society of Kolkata, India, Buddhist Society of West Bengal, India, Government of Myanmar, and Government of Sri Lanka among many others. Nepal Vipassana Centre is in Theravada Monastic Zone, where you can learn meditation technique devised by the Buddha.

After strolling over Theravada Monastic Zone, you enter Lumbini Sacred Garden. On the way to Lumbini Sacred Garden you can see Eternal Peace Flame.

Lumbini Sacred Garden

Lumbini Sacred Garden has been designed as the center of spirituality and peace, and to spread the message of the Buddha about Universal Brotherhood and Non-violence. In Lumbini Sacred Garden, there are monuments of religious and archaeological importance.

Maya Devi Temple

Maya Devi Temple was restored and reopened for the public in 2003. Inside the newly constructed Maya Devi Temple, there is an ancient Maya Devi Temple, which was constructed over the centuries and dates back to 3^rd century BC to 7^th century AD. Inside Maya Devi Temple, you can see the Buddha Nativity Sculpture and the Marker Stone.

The Buddha Nativity Sculpture

The Buddha Nativity Sculpture depicts the birth of Siddhartha Gautama as mentioned in the Buddhist texts. In the sculpture, Maya Devi is clutching a tree branch, her sister Prajapati Gautami is supporting Maya Devi, below is newly born Siddhartha Gautama standing on a lotus, and little away are Hindu Gods Brahma and Indra bowing to the divine child.

The Marker Stone

The Marker Stone was discovered during the excavation of the Maya Devi Temple in 1996. It is a 70 by 40 by 10 stone which marks the exact birth spot of the Buddha. The Marker Stone is covered by a bullet proof glass.

Pushkarini

Little away from the Maya Devi Temple is the pond called Pushkarini. In Pushkarini pond, Maya Devi had bathed before labor pains began, and Siddhartha Gautama received his first purification bath.

Ashokan Pillar

The most important historical evidence marking the birthplace of the Buddha is Ashokan Pillar. It was erected by Indian King Ashoka, when he visited Lumbini in 249 BC. The inscription on the Ashokan Pillar reads “Shakya Muni Buddha was born here.”

Around Maya Devi Temple and Pushkarini pond you can also see ruins of monasteries and the remains of brick masonry called Group of Stupa. Stupa is the monument which stores Buddhist relics inside. These monuments date back to 3^rd century BC to 2^nd century AD. There are also monasteries dedicated to Theravada Buddhism and Mahayana Buddhism built in 1953 and 1968 respectively.

Mahayana Monastic Zone

When you exit from Eternal Peace Flame, and walk through western lane, you will come across Mahayana Monastic Zone. The first thing you see is Panditaram Meditation Centre. In the Mahayana Monastic Zone, you can see Nepali style monastery Drarmodaya Sabha and Tibetan style monastery called Manang Stupa, both built by Nepalese Buddhists. You can also see monasteries constructed by Korean Government, Chinese Government, Vietnamese Government, Japanese Government and German Government. There are also French and Austrian Monasteries and meditation centers. Lumbini Development Trust has allotted plots for the monasteries to be built by the Buddhists from Mongolia, Malaysia and Bhutan.

Lumbini-Buddhist Circuit Tour

When you go for Lumbini-Buddhist Circuit Tour, you can visit as many as 62 religious and archaeological sites in and around Lumbini. The most important sites among these religious and archaeological sites are Tilaurakot, Kudan, Gotihawa, Niglihawa, Sagarhawa, Devdha and Ramagrama.

Tilaurakot

Tilaurakot was the capital city of Kingdom of Kapilvastu. Siddhartha Gautama was the son of King Suddhodhana. He had lived in Tilaurakot for 29 years. After the Enlightenment, the Buddha visited Kapilvastu many times and established the first Buddhist nunnery in Tilaurakot.

In Tilaurakot, you can see the ruins of King Suddhodhana’s palace, Stupas dedicated to the Buddha’s parents, and the city gate. The site was jointly discovered by Nepalese and Japanese archaeologists and dates back to 8^th century BC to 2nd-3^rd century AD. There is Kapilvastu Museum in Tilaurakot where you can see coins, potteries and terracotta figures discovered during the excavation.

Chinese pilgrims Fa Hien (5^th century) and Hiuen Tsang (7^th century) have reported that Tilaurakot and 10 adjacent cities were in complete ruins when they visited Kapilvastu. King Virudhaka of Koshal, India, had torched and destroyed the cities in the Buddha’s time.

Tilaurakot is 27 km west of Lumbini.

Devdha

Devdha is the maternal home of Mayadevi and Prajapati Gautami, the Buddha’s mother and step-mother and his wife Yosodhara. Siddhartha Gautama spent his childhood in Devdha, and visited his maternal home seven years after his Enlightenment.

Devdha is 54 km east of Lumbini.

Ramagrama

When the Buddha died, he was cremated. Remains of his body (relics) were taken away by eight kings. The relics are called Astha Dhatu. King of Ramagrama was one of the kings to receive Astha Dhatu. He built a Stupa in Ramagrama with the relics inside. The remains of Stupa are still present in Ramagrama. It is a seven meter high brick mound.

When King Ashoka visited Ramagrama, he wanted to open the Stupa and divide the Astha Dhatu and build eighty-four thousands Stupas. But he was not permitted by the then king of Ramagrama.

Ramagrama is 40 minutes drive from Devdha.

Kudan

King Suddhodhana had met his Buddhist son for the first time in Kudan. In Kudan, you can see the ruins of monasteries and Stupas. Kudan is 4.5 km south of Tilaurakot.

Gotihawa

It is believed, Krakuchanda Buddha, the Buddha who came before Gautama Buddha, was born and attained Nirvana in Gotihawa. Indian King Ashoka had laid a stone pillar when he visited Gotihawa in 249 BC. You can see the broken Ashokan Pillar and ruins of monasteries and Stupas in Gotihawa. The relics discovered in Gotihawa belong to 6^th century BC to 3^rd century AD.

Gotihawa is 4.33 km away from Kudan.

Niglihawa

Niglihawa is believed to be the birthplace of Kanakmuni Buddha. King Ashoka had visited Niglihawa and erected Ashokan Pillar. The pillar was discovered in 1895 AD. Chinese pilgrims Fa Hien and Hiuen Tsang have mentioned about this place in their travel accounts.

Niglihawa is twenty minutes drive from Tilaurakot.

Sagarhawa

Archaeologists have identified Sagarhawa as the site where the people of Kapilvastu were massacred by King Virudhaka. It is a forested place where there is an ancient pond called Lumbi Sagar. Sagarhawa is 15.31 km from Tilaurakot.

Village Tour/Walk

You can take a joyride in a bicycle, rikshaw, or bullock cart, or simply walk in the villages in and around Lumbini. The villages provide cultural sightseeing and an opportunity to get acquainted with the local people. You can also see numerous lakes, ponds and wetland areas in the villages, which are ideal places for bird watching. Touring the villages is a wonderful experience to get to know rural Nepal.

The villagers make handicrafts and clay statuettes. They use natural fibers to make their handicrafts, and sacred soil of Lumbini to make Buddha’s idols. When you buy souvenirs from the villagers, you contribute to their livelihood.

New Lumbini Village

Lumbini Master Plan has designed the northern part of Lumbini as the place of recreation for the visitors. There are hotels, lodges, restaurants and camping sites and a beautiful World Peace Stupa in New Lumbini Village

On the western side there is Crane Sanctuary and Wetland Garden jointly established by Crane Foundation, USA, Lumbini Crane Conservation Center, and Lumbini Development Trust. There is also Nepal Council for Preservation of Buddhist Religion which displays Buddhist scroll paintings called Thangka.

Lumbini-Buddhist Circuit Tour

From To Distance Time

Bhairahawa Airport Maya Devi Temple 17.5 km 25 min. drive

Maya Devi Temple Kudan 29.42 km 45 min. drive

Kudan Gotihawa 4.33 km 15 min. drive

Gotihawa Tilaurakot 7.32 km 20 min. drive

Tilaurakot Niglihawa 8.85 km 20 min. drive

Niglihawa Aaraurakot 1.25 km 3 min. drive

Aaraurakot Sagarhawa 5.21 km 10 min. drive

Sagarhawa Devadha 65.3 km 1.5 hours drive

Devadha Ramagrama 25.19 km 40 min. drive

Ramagrama Bhairahawa 28.56 km 1 hour drive