Photo: RanbirPhotographer / Pixabay

Lumbini

Birthplace of the Buddha and a garden of monasteries from around the world.

Region: Lumbini Province, Rupandehi
Best time to visit: October to March, when the plains are cooler
Getting there: Fly to Gautam Buddha International Airport in Bhairahawa, or drive about 10 hours from Kathmandu.
Permits and entry: The Maya Devi Temple charges an entry fee, with different rates for Nepali, SAARC and other visitors. Rates were revised in 2026, so check at the gate.

Lumbini is one of the most peaceful places on earth, and one of the most important. This is where Siddhartha Gautama, who became the Buddha, was born. It was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997.

What to see

Maya Devi Temple: built over brick ruins dating from the 3rd century BC, marking the exact spot of the Buddha’s birth.
Ashoka Pillar: a sandstone pillar put up by Emperor Ashoka in 249 BC. Its inscription in Brahmi script names Lumbini as the Buddha’s birthplace. It was rediscovered in 1896.
The sacred pond beside the temple, where Queen Maya Devi is said to have bathed.
The Monastic Zone: split by a long canal into an eastern zone for Theravada monasteries and a western zone for Mahayana and Vajrayana monasteries, built by countries and communities from all over the world.

Our tip

Rent a bicycle and spend a full day moving slowly between the monasteries. Come back to the Maya Devi Temple in the late afternoon, when the light softens and the chanting begins.