Lumbini Sightseeing Tour

The birthplace of the Gautama Buddha, Lumbini, is one of the four holy places of Buddhism. Lumbini is situated at the foothills of the Himalayas in modern Nepal. In the Buddha's time, Lumbini was a beautiful garden full of green and shady sal trees (Shorea robusta).
Lumbini area is enlisted in UNESCO world heritage list. The main attractions at the Lumbini remain the Sacred Garden that is spread over 8 sq. km. Moreover, the Mayadevi Temple, Ashoka Pillar, sacred pond, China Temple etc. are other attractions around it. The sacred Garden possesses all the treasures of the historic area.

The Mayadevi temple is the main attraction for pilgrims and archaeologists alike. Standing west to the Mayadevi shrine is the oldest monument of Nepal, the Asoka' pillar. Emperor Ashoka built the pillar in 249 BC. Today the holy site is being developed as the supreme Buddhist pilgrimage and a symbol of world peace. The shrines and monasteries built by different countries and in different times reflect the architectural traditions of the respective countries, and thus giving Lumbini an international feel with a message of universal friendship and brotherhood.
About 30km east of Lumbini is the village of Tilaurakot. It is the place for the study of ancient civilization and history.

Place to see in Lumbini

Arorakot:

About 10 kilometers northwest of Taulihawa is a rectangular fortified area popularly known as Arorakot. There are remains of ancient moat and the fortification made of bricks

Gotihawa:

About 5 kilometers southwest of Taulihawa, there is a village called Gotihawa. There remains a broken historical pillar. The lower portion is 3.5 meters high and still intact. A huge stupa is seen to the north east of the pillar.

Niglihawa:

About 8 kilometer northwest of Taulihawa is another site of archaeological importance. The place is popularly known as Niglihawa. It has a quadrangular pond surrounded by bushes locally known as Niglisagar. On the western bank of the pond there are two broken pieces of the Ashoka Pillar.

Sagarhawa:

About 12 kilometers north of Taulihawa is the forest of Sagarhawa. In the midst of the forest here is a huge rectangular pond, locally known as Lumbusagar. The place is impressive natural sight.

Devdaha:

Situated at about 35 kilometers northeast of Lumbini, Devdaha is believed to be the maternal home of Prince Siddhartha. The place is, thus, important religious and historical spot.

Museum area in Lumbini

The Lumbini Museum, located in the Cultural Zone, 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. Thus, the museum is important for historical studies.

Kapilvastu Museum:

Situated at 27 km west of Lumbini in the village of Tilaurakot, the museum holds coins, pottery and toys dating between the seventh century BC and fourth century AD. The museum also has good collection of jewelry and other ornaments of that period.

Lumbini International Research Institute (LIRI):

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