Lumbini is the sacred site of the birth of Shakyamuni Buddha. It is located in southern Nepal, near the border with India.

Get in

By air

The closest airport is at Bhairawa (22km), where there are flights to and from Kathmandu.

By road

Buses buses ply the route between Bhairawa (from stop across from Hotel Yeti) and Lumbini (you will need to walk 1km from the nearest stop). The last return bus departs at 5 pm.

Buses also run from Kathmandu, Pokhara and Varanasi to Bhairawa.

Taxis are probably the best option for reaching Lumbini from Bhairwara, though you will need to know the going rate to avoid paying well over the odds. As everywhere else in the sub-continet, ensure that the fare has been agreed before heading out. This will save trouble at the destination.

Bikes can be rented at hotels in Bhairawa and offer a good way to see the site.

See

• Ashokan Pillar - an inscribed pillar erected by Emperor Ashoka (249 BC) on the spot of Buddha's birth. The inscription, which is the oldest in Nepal, grants Lumbini a tax-free status in honor of Buddha’s birth.

• Buddhist Temples - there are foundations of temples dating from the 2nd century BC to the 9th century AD, and two modern temples: one in Tibetan style, the Dharma Swami Maharaja Buddha Temple, which was built by the king of Mustang, and one Nepalese Theravada style building, the Lumbini Buddha Vihar, which was built by the Nepalese government and contains Tibetan-style frescoes and Newari-style Buddhist images. Outside the main complex, there are other temples built in the styles of countries where Buddhism is the predominant religion, such as Chinese, Japanese and Burmese.

• The Japan Peace Stupa - the 41m imposing structure is situated at the northern end of the gardens.

• The Lumbini Museum displays artifacts from the Mauryan and Kushana periods, religious manuscripts and other items discovered at the site.

• The Lumbini International Research Institute (LIRI) is devoted to the study of Buddhism and other religions. It houses an extensive collection of books on religion, art and architecture.

Do

Buy

Eat

Drink

Sleep

Budget

• The Sri-Lankan Pilgrims' Rest House, about a 15 to 20 minute walk from main site.
• The Lumbini Village Lodge.

Mid range

• Pawan International Hotel, Main Road, Siddhartha Nagar. Tel:+977 71 523-680
• Hotel Nirvana, Paklihawa rd, Siddhartha Nagar. Tel:+977 71 520-837, 520-516. E-mail:nirva@ccsl.com.np

Splurge

• The Lumbini Hokke Hotel.
• Buddha Maya Gardens Hotel, near Lumbini gardens. Tel:+977 71 580-220

Respect

• Wear clothing that expresses respect for the sacred nature of the site.
• Circumambulate the stupas and other sacred objects in a clock-wise direction.
• Preserve the peace and tranquillity.
• Do not climb onto statues or other sacred objects.