Lumbini

Magical Lumbini

The birth place of Siddhartha Gautam who became the Lord Buddha, the Leader of Buddhism

Lord Buddha (Siddhartha Gautam) was born in Lumbini, in southern Nepal, twenty five hundred years ago. Since his time, Nepal has been a sacred ground for Buddhists as the birthplace of the Buddha. Lumbini is a small town in the southern Terai plains of Nepal, where the ruins of the old city can still be seen.

Lumbini has been a holy ground for Buddhists all over the world. The restored garden and surroundings of Lumbini have the remains of many of the ancient stupas and monasteries. A large stone pillar erected by the Indian Emperor Ashoka in 250 BC bears an inscription about the birth of the Buddha.

Lumbini, as of 1997, is an UNESCO World Heritage Site specifically nominated for the international World Heritage program.

A quiet garden, shaded by the leafy Bo tree (the type of tree under which Buddha received enlightenment), and a newly-planted forest nearby lend an air of tranquillity which bespeaks Buddha's teachings. Lumbini is now being developed under the Master Plan of the Lumbini Development Trust, a non governmental organization dedicated to the restoration of Lumbini and its development as a pilgrimage site. The plan, completed in 1978 by the renowned Japanese architect Kenzo Tange, will transform three square miles of land into a sacred place of gardens, pools, buildings, and groves. The development will include a Monastic Zone, the circular sacred Garden surrounding the Ashoka pillar and Maya Devi temple, and Lumbini Village, where visitors will find lodges, restaurants, a cultural centre and tourist facilities.

An important archaeological site near Lumbini, Kapilvastu evokes the ancient palace where Lord Buddha spent his formative years. Scattered foundations of the palace are abundant, and archaeologists’ have by now discovered 13 successive layers of human habitation dating back to the eighth century BC. A must for archaeological and historical buffs!

Besides its religious and historical significance, Lumbini offers cultural insights into the village life of southern Nepal. If possible, try to coincide your visit with the weekly Monday bazaar when villagers come from miles around to buy grains, spices, pottery, jewellery, saris and various other items. It may appear as a scene out of the Arabian Nights, with colourful merchandise spread out under the mango trees and the air perfumed with incense. It's a chance to bargain for souvenirs while witnessing local life in Lumbini. Wooden ox-carts loaded with hay trundle by. Villagers dry cow-dung for fuel, and tea stalls serve sweet milk tea.

Today, Lumbini is beginning to receive travellers' and archaeologists' attention after centuries of neglect. Serious preservation work has only just been started in the latter half of this century and Lumbini as a slice of history is worth seeing and worth preserving.

The ten Precepts of Buddhism are;

Not to kill

Not to steal

Not to engage in improper sexual activity

Not to indulge in wrong speech

Not to take intoxicating drinks and drugs

To abstain from taking food at unreasonable times

To refrain from sensual pleasures such as dancing, singing and self-adornment

To refrain from using high and luxurious seats in order to practice humility

To refrain from wearing scent or garlands

To refrain from handling gold or silver so as not to incite greed

Read further about Lumbini http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/666

An important part of Lumbini is the temple of Maya Devi. It has a stone image of Maya Devi giving birth to Lord Buddha as she holds onto a branch. It has been well worn by the strokes of barren women hoping for fertility. To the south of the temple is a pool where Queen Maya Devi is said to have bathed and given her son his first purification bath.

Promotional Video by NTV

Transportation

As usual Rickshaws is the best transport to get around all the archaeological sites.

30 minutes flight from Kathmandu to Bhairawa (Gautam Buddha Airport) and Actual attractions are 3 kilometres from the airport.

Places to stay and eat;

Lumbini is being developed as one of the major tourist destination in southern western of Nepal (the western Terai) so it wouldn’t be any trouble to find range of accommodations and places to eat, Rickshaw man would be the best person to ask.