Lumbini (Sanskrit for "the lovely") is a Buddhist pilgrimage site located at the Nepalese town of Kapilavastu, district Rupandehi, near the Indian border. Lumbini is one of four Buddhist pilgrimage sites based on major events in the life of Gautama Buddha. Interestingly, all of the events occurred under trees. The other three sites are in India: Bodh Gaya (enlightenment), Sarnath (first discourse), and Kushinagar (death).

What to See
Lumbini lies in the foothills of the Himalayas in Nepal. The site is a large garden with a grove of pipal trees. The area around Lumbini is entirely Hindu, but many Buddhist temples and shrines from various nations are scattered around the holy site itself.

The most important temple at Lumbini is the Maya Devi Temple, which enshrines the traditional site of the Buddha's birth. The current temple stands on the site of earlier temples and stupas, including the stupa built by Ashoka.

The modern temple consists mainly of simple white building that protects ancient ruins, with the exact spot of the Buddha's birth identified. The delicate sandstone sculptures discovered here are now in the National Musuem in Kathmandu.

Atop the temple is a small square tower of the type seen in Kathmandu, with Buddha eyes on each side and a golden pinnacle on top. On the south side of the temple is a sacred pool (see top photo), where it is said Maya Devi bathed before giving birth, and where the newborn Buddha was washed by two dragons. The Maha Devi temple is surrounded by the brick foundations of ancient temples and monasteries. All around Lumbini, long lines of colorful prayer flags are strung between trees. They carry prayers and mantras heavenward as they flap on the breeze.

The other main sight of interest at Lumbini is Ashoka's Pillar, near the temple. It is protected by a small fence, which is decorated with prayer flags and banners from the faithful. Around the courtyard containing the pillar are bowls for incense sticks, and there is room to sit in front of the pillar for contemplation.

Getting There
Lumbini is in west-central Nepal near the Indian border. It is not terribly easy to get to, and the site does not receive a large amount of visitors. Most pilgrims to Lumbini come from Southeast Asia, Japan and Tibet, but westerners come regularly as well.

Lumbini has a small airport, which receives flights from airlines like the aptly-named Buddha Air. Consult the links below for more information.

Maya Devi Temple
Lumbini remained neglected for centuries. In 1895, Feuhrer, a famous German archaeologist, discovered the great pillar while wandering about the foothills of the Churia range. Further exploration and excavation of the surrounding area revealed the existence of a brick temple and a sandstone sculpture within the temple itself which depicts the scenes of the Buddha's birth.

It is pointed out by scholars that the temple of Maya Devi was constructed over the foundations of more than one earlier temple or stupa, and that this temple was probably built on an Ashokan stupa itself. On the south of the Maya Devi temple there is the famous sacred bathing pool known as Puskarni. It is believed that Maha Devi took a bath in this pool before the delivery. By the side of the Ashoka pillar there is a river which flows southeast and is locally called the 'Ol' river. In 1996, an archaeological dig unearthed a "flawless stone" placed there by the Indian Emperor Ashoka in 249 BC to mark the precise location of the Buddha's birth more than 2,600 years ago, if authenticated, the find will put Lumbini even more prominently on the map for millions of religious pilgrims.

Recently, several beautiful shrines have been built by devotees from Buddhist countries. A visit to Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha, is not only for spiritual enlightenment but also for solace and satisfaction that one gets in such a calm and peaceful place.

Tilaurakot
Although there is some controversy surrounding the Tilaurakot ruins, it is generally agreed that the site was the citadel complex of the surrounding Kapilvastu Kingdom which was founded by Suddhodana, Siddhartha Guatama Buddha's father.

The most recent of the excavation projects at Tilauarakot was carried out by Robin Coningham and Armin Schmidt in 2000. Their excavations uncovered the remains of a walled fortress of considerable size, with foundations of several buildings within the fortress.

Interestingly, the last three letters of the name Tilauarakot, "kot", is Nepalese for "fortress". A short way from Tilauarakot is a small museum which displays coins, black polished pottery and jewelry, as well as a variety of ornaments and toys which have been recovered from the site. Many of these interesting items date back to the period between the seventh century BC and the fourth century AD.

The Buddhist pilgrimage site of Lumbini is situated about 25 kilometers from Tilaurakot. It is at Lumbini that Siddhartha Guatama Buddha was born. He was the founder of Buddhism and is generally seen by Buddhists to be the Supreme Buddha of the current age. Guatama Buddha is the key figure in Buddhist teachings with accounts of his life, monastic rules and discourses having been passed down by oral tradition and ultimately being recorded in writing some 400 years after his death.

Kapilvastu
Kapilvastu is the important Buddhist place and is located between two important Buddhist places Lumbini (In Nepal; Birth place of Buddha) & Sravasti (where Buddha spent 27 monsoons of his life). Kapilvastu was the capital city of Shakya Republic during the 6th Century BC. The Shakya domain was one of the 16 Mahajanpadas (republics) of 6th century BC (the earliest republics of the world). The city was the seat of King Sudhodhana, father of Lord Buddha. Prince Siddhartha (childhood name of Lord Buddha), spent most of his early years here. He grew up amidst luxury and was kept away from miseries of life. But one day, having seen the pain of life,he broke out of the luxurious entrapment of his father and renounced all the worldly riches & pleasure, at the age of 29 in search for truth and salvation for which he proceeded to Bodhgaya (Bihar) and revisited it 12 years later,long after he attained Enlightenment. It is believed that Lord Buddha preached "Madhupindika Sutta" in kapilvastu.

The site has been excavated during 1971-77, when two mounds were excavated in the vicinity of this area. Today Kapilvastu comprises of several villages. Chief among them are Piprahwa, Ganvaria & Salargarh.