Bith place of Gautam Buddha(Lumbini)

Lumbini

Birth-Place of Buddha Lumbini Nepal 2007

Lumbini is the hallowed birthplace of Siddhartha Gautam, the Shakya prince, the eventual Shakyamuni and the ultimate Buddha - the Enlightened One.  This nativity site, identified by Indian Emperor Ashoka's commemorative pillar erected over 2200 years ago and rediscovered in 1896, is the quintessential Buddhist heritage site, currently renaissanced by the internationally-supported Lumbini Development Project
The main attraction at Lumbini is the Sacred Garden that is spread over 8 sq km and possesses all the treasures of the historic area.  The Mayadevi temple, is the main attraction for pilgrims and archeologists alike.  This is where we find a bas relief of Mayadevi, the Buddha's mother, giving birth to him as two Hindu gods, Brahma and Indra, shower him with lotus petals and holy water.  There is also a sacred stone marked with a "foot imprint" of Emperor Ashoka which had been placed here to mark the exact birthplace.  Nearby, to the west of the Mayadevi temple, stands the Ashoka Pillar - the oldest monument so far found in Nepal.  The pillar was erected by Emperor Ashoka in 249 BC to commemorate his pilgrimage to the sacred site.  The inscription on it in Brahmi script authenticates Lumbini as the place where the Buddha has born in 623 BC.  To the south of the Pillar we find the sacred pond - Puskarni - where Queen Mayadevi had taken a bath just before giving birth to the Buddha.
The treasury of cultural and archeological riches scattered around Lumbini evokes the time and aura of the Buddha.  Moreover, a host of stupas, monasteries, meditation centers and bahals (courtyards) being constructed in the International Monastery Zone by various countries such as Japan, China, India, Thailand, Myanmar, Vietnam, Shri Lanka, France and Germany embodying their respective architecture reflects and the world brotherhood envisaged by the Apostle of Peach some 2500 years ago.

Quick Getaways

Tilaurakot

An important archeological site lying 27 km to the west of Lumbini, Tilaurakot evokes the ancient palace of King Suddhodhan, Siddhartha Gautam's father, where the Buddha spent his formative years as a Shakya prince.  Scattered foundations of the ancient palace, stupas and monasteries made of kiln-backed bricks and clay mortar are abundant here.  The most sacred spot here for Buddhists is the palace's eastern gate through which the Buddha had departed on his search for enlightenment.  A must for archeology and history buffs.

Niglihawa

Located to the north-east of Tilaurakot, Niglihawa contains some of the most important archelogoical treasures dating back to the third century BC.  This historic place encompasses a quadrangular tank surrounded by bushes and on its western bank are two broken pieces of another Ashoka Pillar.  There is a Pali language inscription on the pillar in Brahmi script which records Ashoka's visit to the holy site in the 14th year of his rule in India.

Sagarhawa

To the north-west of Niglihawa is a forest called Sagarhawa.  It is the site where ruins of ancient water tanks were excavated in 1895 and this site has been identified by archeologist as the "Palace of massacre of the Shakyas".

Aroarakot

Lying to the north-east of Niglihawa, Aroarakot used to be a walled fortress in ancient times.  Rectangular in shape, this citadel was the Buddha's natal town.  Remains of ancient moat and brick foundations, which can still be clearly located, point to a glorious past.  A very interesting trip, takes you to the time of the Buddha.

Gotihawa

To the south-west of Tilaurakot is Gothihawa, where w find another Ashoka Pillar.  The upper part of the pillar is missing.  Next to it is a huge stupa with successive rings of wedge-shaped Mauryan bricks.  This sacred site is believed to be associated with Kanakmuni Buddha and Krakuchhanda Buddha who came before Gautam Buddha.

Getting There

Reaching Lumbini is easy.  A 35-minute flight from Kathmandu will wing visitors to Bhairawa, an industrial town situated 284 km south-west of the capital.  From here, regular taxis and buses leave for Lumbini, 22 km away.  There are daily flights to Bhairawa.  Daily Bus services are also available from Kathmandu to Bhairawa.  Lumbini can be combined with a jungle safari in Chitwan.

Lumbini

Lumbini: The garden where Prince Siddhartha was born

Prince Siddhartha was born in a lovely garden called Lumbini, who later became Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, which was destined to be the prevalent religion in Asia.

<<  Mark of the spot where the Buddha was born

For centuries, Buddhists all over the world, knew that Lumbini where the Lord was born is somewhere around. The descriptions of famous Chinese pilgrims (of ancient times) Huian Tsang and Faeihan indicated to this area-saying 'Lumbini-where the lord was born is a piece of heaven on earth and one could see the snowy mountains amidst a splendid garden-embedded with stupas and monasteries!

However, the exact location remained uncertain and obscure till December the 1st 1886 when a wandering German archaeologist Dr. Alois A. Fuhrer came across a stone pillar and ascertained beyond doubt it is indeed the birthplace of Lord Buddha.

Location

Lumbini, the birth place of Lord Buddha, is situated about 22 km. from Bhairahawa (Siddharthanagar), below the Churia range, 24 km south from the foothills of the Himalayas, on the western bank of Telar river in Rupandehi district of Lumbini zone in Nepal. It is about 300 km. west of capital city Kathmandu. Surrounding this town are Kapilvastu, Rupandehi and the Nawalparasi Terai districts of Lumbini Zone, which are fertile and densely populated.

It is about 34 km from Naugarh Railway Station on the North-Eastern Railway of India.

What to see

The Asokan Pillar

This nativity site, identified by the Ashokan Pillar, erected by Magadhan emperor Ashoka, to commemorate the birth place of Buddha, the Lumbini grove. The pillar was erected over 2200 years ago, making lumbini the quintessential Buddhist heritage site. The Asokan pillar has an inscription mentioning that "here the Buddha was born"

Nearby ruins that are presently undergoing restoration and the modern temples. Among the prime attractions are the sacred garden with an area of 8 sq. km, the Mayadevi Temple with a bas relief of Mayadevi, the Buddha's mother and a sacred stone marked with a "foot imprint" of Ashoka. The Ashokan Pillar, the oldest monument so far found in Nepal lies to the west of the Mayadevi Temple.

Today only the lower shaft of the pillar stands, the upper past having been split into two. There is no trace of the horse capital. To the south of the pillar is Puskarni, the sacred pond, wherein, Mayadevi is said to have had taken a bath just before giving birth to the Buddha - the Enlightened one.

For those interested in the treasury of cultural and archaeological riches, Lumbini is the perfect place to be there with a number of stupa, monasteries, meditation centers and bahals (courtyard). No other place evokes the time and aura of the Buddha like Lumbini, the Hallowed birthplace of the Apostle of Peace.

Tilaurakot

Lying about 27 km west of Lumbini and evoking the ancient palace of King Suddhodhan (The chief of the Shakya tribe and father of Buddha), is Tilaurakot, where Buddha spent his early years. The place of tremendous archaeological significance. Other than quite a few scattered fountains of ancient palaces, stupas and monasteries, archaeologists have discovered thirteen successive layers of human presence (habitation), the oldest dating back to the eight century B.C. one should always remember the eastern gate of the palace, here, through which Buddha is said to have departed on his search for enlightenment. A never miss for Buddhist as well as historians and scholars.

Niglihawa

Some of the very valuable archaeological finds (Dating 3rd century B.C) have been unearthed at Niglihawa. Situated to the north-east of Tilaurakot, this place encompasses a quadrangular tank, two broken pieces of another Ashokan Pillar. The pillar inscription commemorates Ashoka's visit to the place.

Tengpoche Monastery, Nepal

Sagarhawa: Identified by Archaeologists as the "Palace of Massacre of the Shakyas", the ruins of an ancient water tank were excavated n the forest of Sagarhawa. It lies to the north-west of Niglihawa.

Gotihawa: Located to the south-west of Tilaurkot, the place is known for an Ashokan Pillar (Whose upper part, capital is missing) and a huge stupa. According to the legends, the place is also associated with Kanakmuni Buddha and Krakuchhanda Buddha. They arrived before Gautam Buddha.

Aroarakot: This place once had a walled rectangular fortress. The citadel was Buddha's natal town. Lying to the north-east of Niglihawa, here you can find remains of ancient moat and brick fortifications reminding you of its glorious past.

Getting there

Lumbini is just a few kilometres inside Nepal but getting there requires all the formalities of crossing an international border.

There are plenty of hotels in Bhairawa which you have to pass through to get to Lumbini but it is better to stay in some of the temples near Lumbini. If you intend to enter Nepal and return Map to India you will need to apply for a Multiple Entry Visa when you get your Indian visa.

You can apply for a Nepalese visa at the border itself. A 15 day visa costs US $15 and a 30 day visa costs US $25 payable only in either US $ or Nepalese rupees. Crossing the border can be a slow tedious business unless 'baksheesh' is offered to officials.