Lumbini Tour

Unadulterated holy land, Lumbini is the birthplace of Lord Shakyamuni Buddha. It is located in the Rupandehi district east of Kapilavastu, southwest of Devadaha, and 281km southwest of Kathmandu. This blessed land is precious for all Buddhist followers. Lumbini was declared as the place of world peace. Thousands of pilgrimages arrive here from all over the world every year. Lord Shakyamuni Buddha was born in Lumbini in the 6th century B.C. as Siddhartha Gautam.

Mayadevi Temple and sacred Garden are the most precious place in Lumbini. Mayadevi Temple is dedicated to the mother of Shakyamuni Buddha. Inside the temple, archaeologists discovered the marked Stone that shows the exact location of the birthplace of Buddha. Just south of Maya Devi Temple, holy pond Pushkarni is situated where Maya Devi had a bath before giving birth to Siddhartha Gautam and believed that Lord Buddha first bathed there too. Also next to the Mayadevi Temple there is a marked stone pillar erected by the Indian Emperor Ashoka at 245 B.C. Within Lumbini Garden, various new Temples and Monasteries are built by Buddhist organizations from different Buddhist countries. Many of those have been completed and some are still under construction.

Outside the Lumbini Garden, Tilaurakot is the most important place that belongs to Shakyamuni Buddha. Tilaurakot was the capital of the ancient Kapilvastu Kingdom, the palace of king Suddhodhan, and the father of Shakyamuni Buddha. Prince Siddhartha Gautam spent his first 29 years of his life there. In the center of the mount, can be seen the remains of ancient structural moat and fortification walls, including the western and eastern gates of the palace. Palace eastern gate known as Mahabhiniskramana Dwara, through this gate prince Siddhartha Gautam took the great renunciation at the age of 29 in search of supreme knowledge.

The second most important site outside the Lumbini Garden is Kudan. It is located 4.5km south of Tilaurakot, where King Suddhodhan met Shakyamuni Buddha for the first time after his son returned from cosmic enlightenment. There is a huge mound of structural ruins and a pond nearby. The Structural ruins appear to be the ruins of Stupas and Monastery.

Gotihawa is the birthplace of Krakuchanda Buddha, who came before Lord Buddha. It is located 3km southwest of Taulihawa. Gotihawa is a historically and archaeologically very important place outside the Lumbini Garden. There is a broken stone Pillar erected by Ashoka. On the northeast side of Ashoka Pillar is a huge stupa with a ring of wedge-shaped ancient bricks, identified as the Nirvana stupa of Krakuchanda Buddha. The villagers are still using an ancient well that is situated in the middle of the village and believed the development has started in the 6th century B.C.

Another important site in Lumbini is Niglihawa, a significant historical and archeological place located 7km north of Taulihawa. You can see the remains of a broken Ashoka Pillar nearby a large pond. It’s believed that Emperor Ashoka built a stupa and erected a Pillar when he visited the site as a pilgrimage. Niglihawa is the birthplace of Kanakmuni Buddha. It is mentioned on Stone Pillar. It is also believed that Kanakmuni Buddha met his father here after he got enlightenment. Therefore, the site is regarded as an important religious place for Buddhist followers.

Sagarhawa is a very important archeological site, located about 12 km north of Taulihawa. It is a forested area with a lake known as Lumbusagar where Shakya was massacred by King Virudhaka. The place was excavated in 1895 A.D.

Araurkot is about 3 km northeast of Niglihawa. This is a huge rectangular fortified area. There are remains of an ancient moat and brick fortification. In ancient times it was a fortified wall, so it was called the Natal City of Kanakamuni Buddha.

Devdaha is another significant site that is associated with Shakyamuni Buddha. It is the ancient capital of the Koliya kingdom. The home of Queen Maya Devi (mother of Lord Buddha), Prajapati Gautami (stepmother of Lord Buddha and who raised him), and Princess Yasodhara (his consort). This is the place where Prince Siddhartha Gautam spent his childhood until the age of seven. Shakyamuni Buddha visited this place after he got enlightenment and appointed followers of the Jain sage Nirgranth Nathputra. Around Devadaha many other sites like Kumarabarti, Khayardand, Bairmai / Kanyamai, Bhawanipur / Devidamar, Mathagadi.

Ramgram: It is believed to be one of the first eight parts of Lord Buddha’s relic which they preserved here and built glorious Stupa. The huge stupa is believed to be built around 600 B.C. According to the Buddhist Library sources, emperor Ashoka wanted to open and obtain the Buddha’s relics to rebuild 84 thousand Buddhist stupas throughout the Indian sub-continent. However, the Dragon King and the people of Ramgram did not allow him to take out precious relics. This remaining single original Lord Buddha’s relic stupa stands 7 meters high on the bank of the Jharahi River. It is the most important holy site in the world.

Lumbini is a complete tour package designed by Blossom Expeditions, comprised of all the associated places of Lord Buddha. The tour is specially planned for those who want to explore every single place that is connected with Shakyamuni Buddha and learn Buddha’s teaching and history.