Lumbini

Overview

Lumbini is a village, archaeological site, and place of pilgrimage honoured as the birthplace of Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha, l. c. 563-483 BCE) located in modern-day Rupandehi District of Nepal, Province 5, near the Indian border. It is 255 Km away from the capital Kathmandu. It was first formally identified as the Buddha's birthsite in 249 BCE by the Mauryan king Ashoka the Great (r. 268-232 BCE). The Mahadevi Temple, Ashoka's pillar, and other sacred sites are all open to the public. Many different nations from around the world have erected structures at Lumbini honoring the vision of the Buddha and committing themselves to the prospect of world peace and cooperation. Lumbini is among the most popular pilgrimage and tourist attractions in Nepal, and, although it no doubt looks vastly different today than it did in the time of the Buddha, it is claimed to emanate the same peace and tranquillity which his mother is said to have experienced over 2,000 years ago when she stopped there to walk among the gardens.