| Lumbini, the Birthplace of the Lord Buddha* | |
|---|---|
| UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
 |
|
| State Party |  Nepal |
| Type | Cultural |
| Criteria | iii, vi |
| Reference | 666 |
| Region** | Asia-Pacific |
| Inscription history | |
| Inscription | 1997 (21st Session) |
| * Name as inscribed on World Heritage List. ** Region as classified by UNESCO. |
|
Lumbinī (Sanskrit: लुम्बिनी, "the lovely") is a Buddhist pilgrimage site in the Rupandehi district of Nepal, near the Indian border. It is the place where Queen Mayadevi is said to have given birth to Siddhartha Gautama, who as the Buddha Gautama founded the Buddhist tradition. The Buddha lived between roughly 563 and 483 BCE. Lumbini is one of four magnets for pilgrimage that sprang up in places pivotal to the life of the Buddha, the others being at Kushinagar, Bodh Gaya, and Sarnath.
Lumbini is in the foothills of the Himalaya,[1] 25 km east of the municipality of Kapilavastu, where the Buddha is said to have lived till the age of 29. Kapilvastu is the name of the place in question as well as of the neighbouring district. Lumbini has a number of temples, including the Mayadevi temple, and others under construction. Also here is the Puskarini or Holy Pond - where the Buddha's mother took the ritual dip prior to his birth and where he, too, had his first bath - as well as the remains of Kapilvastu palace. At other sites near Lumbini, earlier Buddhas were, according to tradition, born, achieved ultimate awakening and finally relinquished earthly form.
Contents |
| Pilgrimage to Buddha's Holy Sites |
 |
| The Four Main Sites |
|---|
| Lumbini · Bodh Gaya Sarnath · Kushinagar |
| Four Additional Sites |
| Sravasti · Rajgir Sankissa · Vaishali |
| Other Sites |
| Patna · Gaya · Kosambi Kapilavastu · Devadaha Kesariya · Pava Nalanda · Varanasi |
| Later Sites |
| Sanchi · Mathura Ellora · Ajanta · Vikramshila Ratnagiri · Udayagiri Bharhut · Barabar Caves |
In the Buddha's time, Lumbini was a park situated between Kapilavastu and Devadaha in India. It was there that the Buddha was born[2]. A pillar now marks the spot of Asoka's visit to Lumbiní. According to an inscription on the pillar, it was placed there by the people then in charge of the park to commemorate Asoka's visit and gifts[3]. The park was previously known as Rummindei, two miles north of Bhagavanpura.
In the Sutta Nipáta (vs. 683) it is stated that the Buddha was born in a village of the Sákyans, in the Lumbineyya Janapada. The Buddha stayed in Lumbinívana during his visit to Devadaha and there preached the Devadaha Sutta[4].
In 1896, Nepalese archaeologists (effort by Khadga Samsher Rana) discovered a great stone pillar at the site, attributed to Emperor Ashoka. Records made by the Chinese pilgrim Fa Xian were also used in the process of identifying this religiously acclaimed site.
Lumbini, as of 1997, is an UNESCO World Heritage Site specifically nominated for the international World Heritage program.
The holy site of Lumbini is bordered by a large monastic zone, in which only monasteries can be built, no shops or hotels or restaurants. It is separated into an eastern and western monastic zone, the eastern having the Theravadin monasteries, the western having Mahayana and Vajrayana monasteries.
The holy site of Lumbini has ruins of ancient monasteries, a sacred Bodhi tree, an ancient bathing pond, the Asokan pillar and the Mayadevi temple, where the precise place of birth of Buddha is located. From early morning to early evening, pilgrims from various countries perform chanting and meditation at the site.
 Bodhi tree and pond at Lumbini |
 Exact birthplace of Gautama Buddha |
 Ashokan Pillar |
 Lumbini Garden |
 Eternal Peace Flame |
 Burmese Lokamani Cula Pagoda |
 Chinese Maitreya Temple |
 A mixture of Tibetan prayer flags and Korean lanterns near the Sacred Pool (Puskarni) |
Coordinates: 27°28′02″N 83°16′30″E / 27.467155°N 83.274908°E
Lumbini [1] is the sacred site of the birth of Sakyamuni Buddha. It is located in southern Nepal, near the Indian border.
The closest airport is at Sunauli (also known as Bhairawa) (22km), where there are flights to and from Kathmandu.
Buses ply the route between Sunauli (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 Sunauli.
Taxis are probably the best option for reaching Lumbini from Sunauli, though you will need to know the going rate to avoid paying well over the odds. As everywhere else in the sub-continent, ensure that the fare has been agreed before heading out. This will save trouble at the destination.
Bikes can be rented at hotels in Lumbini (80 NRs/day) and offer a good way to see the site. Make sure of the condition of the tires, as a flat will mean pushing it back over miles.
Soak up the peaceful atmosphere, conducive to meditation and reflection.
Lots of trinkets and religious paraphernalia are for sale near the entrance to the complex, including Buddha snowglobes and stickers. A couple of shops in the village near the bus stop stock more of the same plus a bit more.
There are a couple of dhabas near the bus stop in the village. They all serve the same fare: puri in the morning, "curry" during the day, at 20 NRs a portion. Right at the beginning of the of the one street that is Lumbini village there is a rooftop restaurant 3 Foxes.
Two small shops will sell you local spirits totake out.
| This is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow! |
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   | Buddhist studies: Pilgrimage: Lumbini - Birthplace of the Buddha - Holy Sites of Buddhism: Lumbini - Buddha's Birthplace |
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