Things To Do
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Lumbini -Buddhist Circuit Tour
The circuit provides insight into the life
of Lord Buddha and the development of Buddhism. There are 62
archaeological sites scattered around Lumbini. The tour goes through
Tilaurakot, Kudan, Gothihawa, Niglihawa, Sagarhawa, Aurorakot, Devadaha
and Ramagrama - all bearing significance to the life and enlightenment
of the Buddha.
Tilaurakot:Identified by archaeologists as the capital of Kapilvastu, Tilaurakot
lies 27 km west of Lumbini, where excavations are on to unearth the
ancient palace of King Suddhodhan, Siddhartha Gautam’s father. The
Buddha is believed to have spent the first 29 years of his princely life
in Tilaurakot.
Kudan: Located some 4.5 km
south of Tilaurakot, Kudan is where King Suddhodhan met Lord Buddha for
the first time after returning from his enlightenment. It was here that
the Kasaya (yellow robe worn by monks) was presented to Lord Buddha. It
was also here that the Kasaya was presented by Lord Buddha to Rahul,
his son.
Gothihawa : About 5 km
from Tilaurakot, Gothihawa is where Krakuchanda Buddha, who preceded
Shakyamuni Buddha, was born. Remains of a broken Ashoka Pillar and
relics can be seen here.
Niglihawa: About 8 km from
Tilaurakot, Niglihawa is where Kanakmani Buddha was born. Here too one
can see remains of a broken Ashokan Pillar.
Devdaha: The capital of
the Koliya kingdom and maternal home of Mayadevi, Devdaha is 35 km to
the northeast of Lumbini. This is where Siddhartha Gautam spent his
childhood.
Sagarhawa :
Forest site is identified by archeologists as the “Palace of the
Massacre of the Shakyas” by the invading forces. The ruins of the
ancient site lie on the west and south banks of a large rectangular pond
known locally as Lumbu Sagar, or long pond, in Niglihawa village.
Sagarahawa is 12 km north of Taulihawa municipality in Lumbini.
Lumbini Village Tour:
A walk through the villages surrounding Lumbini and interaction with the
warm and hospitable local people, buying their handicrafts and
observing their traditional rituals will bring one closer to
understanding the diversity of the Terai cultures in Nepal. Village
tours also give an opportunity to observe the Terai landscape and a peek
into the locals’ agro-based rural lifestyle, colorful costumes,
festivals which they celebrate with much joy and enthusiasm, and
gracious hospitality. Visitors can also visit the local temples and
mosques or partake in the cultural ceremonies.
Wetland areas, lakes and ponds in the
villages offer birdwatching opportunities. Visitors have the option of
choosing to walk through the villages or ride in a local rickshaw or
bullock cart. Some of the villages surrounding Lumbini are Ekala,
Khudabagar, Tenuhawa, Lumbini Adarsh and Madhuvani. More information is
available about the villages in the New Products section.
Lumbini, the
birthplace of Lord Buddha, in the Terai plains of Nepal is one of the
greatest pilgrimage sites for Buddhists. More than 400,000 Buddhists and
non Buddhists visit Lumbini every year. It is also a UNESCO World
Heritage Site (Culture) and holds immense archeological and religious
importance.
Sacred Garden: It was here in the gardens of Lumbini
that Prince Siddhartha Gautam, who later became the Buddha, was born in
623 BC. The nativity site is marked by a commemorative pillar erected
by Mauryan Emperor Ashoka of India during his pilgrimage to the holy
site in 249 BC.
The inscription on the Ashoka Pillar indentifies the Sacred Garden -
spread over 9 sq. km – as the spot where the Enlightened One was born. A
large number of Buddhist pilgrims from all over the world visit Lumbini
to pray at the Mayadevi Temple where excavations have revealed the “marker stone” showing the exact spot where Siddhartha Gautam Buddha was born. The sacred Puskarni Pond
where Queen Mayadevi had taken a bath before the birth of Buddha lies
to the south of the pillar. It was also in this pond that the infant
Buddha was given his first bath.
Monuments: To the north of the Sacred Garden are
monastic zones where different countries have built temples and
monasteries depicting different sects of Buddhism. The Myanmar Temple (Lokamani Cula Pagoda) is a shiny gold and white structure that resembles the Shwe-dagon Pagoda of Yangon while the International Gautami Nuns Temple is a replica of the Swayambhu Stupa of Kathmandu.
The China Temple, built by the
Buddhist Association of China, is a complex of pagodas, prayer rooms and
meditation cells. Across the road is the Dae Sung Suk Ga Sa Korean Temple. The Japan Peace Stupa,
built by Nippon Jon Kyohoji of Japan, is a 41-m tall structure with
four different Buddha statues set into the stupa’s dome facing the four
cardinal directions.
Other beautiful monuments and temples have been built by Vietnam, Thailand, Mongolia, France, Germany and Sri Lanka.
