Overview

Lumbini Half Day Tour – Explore the Birthplace of Buddha in 2024/2025

Explore the birthplace of Buddha. Join a Lumbini half day tour to visit Mayadevi Temple and delve into the history and spiritual significance of this holy site.

Lumbini is one of the most significant pilgrimage destinations located in the southern Terai plains of Nepal. It lies about 315 km southwest of Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu. Lumbini is located at Rupendehi district of Nepal and is about 22km far from Bhairahawa city. It is the place where queen Maya Devi gave birth to Siddhartha Gautam in 543 BCE who later enlightened himself and became Lord Buddha, the founder of Buddhism. Siddhartha Gautam achieved Enlightenment sometime around 528 BCE, became the Buddha and founded Buddhism. It is believed that Lord Buddha walked immediately after his birth and took seven steps, under each of which a lotus flower bloomed. Buddha was one of the greatest human beings, a man of noble character, penetrating vision, warm compassion, and profound thought who always preaches for the peace in the world. Lord Buddha is known as the light of Asia.
The Sacred Garden, which is spread over 8 sq.km possesses all the treasures of the historic area. It has been listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage site in the year 1997 AD. The site is marked by Ashoka Stone Pillar, which has an engraved inscription identifying the spot as the birth place of Lord Buddha. On one side of the pillar is the Mayadevi Temple, the temple of the mother of Lord Buddha. Recent excavations have turned up a stone bearing Foot Prints of Lord Buddha.

Puskerni Pond, located south of the Ashokan Pillar is where Queen Mayadevi, mother of Lord Buddha is believed to have taken a bath before giving birth to Lord Buddha.
The Bodhi Tree in Lumbini is located in the premises of the Maya Devi Temple complex right next to the shrine on the banks of the serene Maya Devi Pond. Buddhist monks often sit under the tree meditating and chanting spiritual scripts. The tree is an age-old Pipal tree or Focus Religious clad in colorful prayer flags, Locals believe that wishes made while tying a colorful prayer flag are often granted.Ashoka Pillar, the pillar carrying an inscription identifying the holy site as the birthplace, is situated nearby the Sacred Garden. To one side of Ashoka pillar is the Mayadevi Temple. Recent excavations have turned up a stone bearing a “foot imprint”, indicating the exact place of birth.

Japanese Peace Stupa, situated at the northern end of Lumbini. Built by the Nippon Jon Myohoji of Japan, the 41-m tall edifice is visible from a distance. Four different Buddha statues are set into the stupa’s dome to face the four cardinal directions.

Lumbini Museum: A museum has also been established at the Lumbini garden to preserve the historical artifacts like clothes, coins, idols, and other items related to Buddhism unearthed during excavations carried out around Lumbini in different times. Tourists can view these artifacts in the museum for study and research. The museum is frequently visited by those seeking information about Buddha. The museum is at a 10 to 15 minutes walking distance from the Eternal Peace Flame.
World Peace Stupa: The World Peace Stupa was constructed at Lumbini to spread the message of peace, friendship and goodwill in the world and to raise awareness to keep the earth pure and clean. The 41.5 m tall stupa is one of the major attractions of Lumbini. The stupa was constructed as part of the campaign by Japanese Buddhist preacher Fujing to construct World Peace Stupa in different parts of the world. It takes 40 to50 minutes on foot and 25 minutes on a rickshaw to reach the World Peace Stupa from Mayadevi Temple. Very few tourist arriving at Lumbini miss a visit to the World Peace Stupa. The heavenly serene atmosphere around the stupa and the attractive pieces of art that adorn the Stupa entice the visitors.

World Peace Flame: The eternal World Peace Flame is a major attraction of the Lumbini garden located at the center of the garden. Tourists flock to observe the flame that is kept glowing uninterrupted 24 hours a day. The flame was lighted on 1st November 1986 AD by the then Prince Gyanendra Shah. The flame that represents peace and fraternity in the world was brought from the United States of America as part of the celebration of the International Peace Year. The eternal flame can be reached at the end of 10 minutes walk from the Mayadevi Temple.

The China Temple is a complex of pagodas, prayer rooms and meditation cells. Built by the Buddhist Association of China, the centerpiece at the Zhong Hua Buddhist Monastery is a huge statue of the Buddha housed in its main pagoda.

The Myanmar Temple (Lokamani Cula Pagoda) is a gleaming gold and white structure gracefully soaring into the sky in the style of the Shwe-dagon Pagoda in Yangon. There is a monastery complex behind the temple. Nearby, the International Gautami Nuns Temple is a fine replica of the Swayambhu stupa in Kathm-andu. There is a pond here known as Paleswan Pukhu.

Lumbini Museum: The Lumbini Museum contains Mauryan and Kushana coins, religious manuscripts, terra-cotta fragments, and stone and metal sculptures. It also possesses an extensive collection of stamps from various countries depicting Lumbini and the Buddha.

Lumbini International Research Institute (LIRI), located opposite the Lumbini Museum, provides research facilities for the study of Buddhism and religion in general. Run jointly by the Lumbini Development Trust and the Reiyukai of Japan, LIRI contains some 12,000 books on religion, philosophy, art and architecture.