Lumbini, located on the southern end of the central part of Nepal is most known for being the birthplace of Siddhartha Gautam, who eventually came to be known as Lord Buddha. A holy site for many, many make religious pilgrimages to Lumbini from all over the world. However, a delve into Buddhist holy sites is not the only thing that this city has to offer.
To reach Lumbini, the lack of an international airport in its vicinity means that travellers visiting from overseas must fly into Tribhuvan International Airport, located in the capital city of Kathmandu, and then continue their journey on domestic carriers that fly to Siddhartha Gautama Airport in Bhairahawa, a city on the Terai Plains. Alternatively, travellers who prefer a longer route and scenery composed of the Nepali hillside and plains can catch a bus from Kathmandu or drive their own vehicle to the historical city.
Located on the Terai Plains, Lumbini and its surroundings of Kapilvastu and Bhairahawa lack the temperate weather of cities located on the Nepali hills, so make sure you pack clothing that is breathable, especially if visiting during the spring, when temperatures reach a sweltering daily average of high 30 ° Celsius to low 40° Celsius. However, the winter, especially the months from December to February have contrastingly low temperatures ranging in the low 10° Celsius. While this is nowhere close to freezing, do make sure that you pack a jacket that can keep you warm and cosy as you visit Lumbini’s famed holy sites.
Of all of the temples found on this UNESCO World Heritage Site, the most visited by religious pilgrims, of both Buddhist and Hindu descent is the Mayadevi Temple. Named for Siddhartha Gautam’s mother, it was built during Lord Ashoka’s visit to Lumbini. With a whitewashed rectangular facade with a small stupa situated on its roof, it might look deceptively simple when compared to the grandiose structures that surround it. Yet, it claims to house the earliest buddhist shrine in the world and with its surroundings of lush green fields, it conveys a sense of peace from within. Next to it lies the Puskarini pond, a pool of water in which Mayadevi is said to have bathed in before giving birth to Lord Buddha under a Sal Tree. Alongside the Temple, Lord Ashoka also erected a pillar signifying the spot as the one where Lord Buddha was born, making it another landmark that attracts a large number of visitors; both religious pilgrims and travellers sightseeing. However, the most popular landmark inside the Mayadevi complex that consists of all of these structures might be the thick trunked Bodhi tree with colourful prayer flags draped around its base. Enjoy the simple beauty that your surroundings present you with when Buddhist monks draped in maroon robes congregate near the tree, transporting you to the time that Lord Buddha might’ve been alive.
Alongside the main Mayadevi complex lie monasteries constructed by various countries as a homage to one of the most important religious sites in Buddhism, Make sure you visit the Thai Monastery: with its gilded white washed roofs that resemble those of temples typically found in Thailand, it is sure to make you feel like you’ve been transported to another country. Don’t miss the bright yet stately ‘‘Dae Sung Shakya’ Monastery built by South Korea. With an intricate, green and blue tiered exterior, the inside of the temple has a simple interior that manages to centre you as you look through the space. Besides this is Germany’s ‘Great Lotus Stupa’ built by the Tara Foundation. With an alluring exterior that presents a beautifully painted, exuberant interior, the intricate paintings reflect the artistry that has gone into the construction of these pavillions. While the monasteries mentioned here reflect the different yet equally stunning architectures through which different countries perceive Buddhist temples, they are only some of the monasteries found in Lumbini, so make sure you carve out the time to visit as many as you can.
However, Lumbini’s religious offerings are not the only things drawing visitors to this city. The Terai plains that surround this holy site are home to the endangered Sarus Crane, and are designated as an important Bird Area by Bird Life International. While the river channels and fields provide an important habitat for various species, the Sarus Crane, famed for its connection to the Lord Buddha, is protected by the Lumbini Crane Sanctuary and the locals that reside in this area. Visit the Sanctuary for a glimpse of the magnificent red headed bird, and you can get a chance to see it stretch its elegant wings. The foundation that manages the sanctuary also offers birdwatching sessions and nature walks, providing travellers with an increased chance of sighting the Sarus Crane and , but also an immersive experience through which they get to view the marshes and natural landscape of the Terai region that these birds stalk through.
If all of this sightseeing has got you absolutely famished, fear not, for Lumbini has a delectable array of food offerings. Situated close to the Indo-Nepal border, the city and its surroundings provide delicious Indian food without having to cross the border into India. From street food vendors lining the streets to restaurants providing options from western and continental dishes that cater to the wide range of nationalities that visit Lumbini, you are sure to find something that you like. However, the neighbouring city of Bhairahawa holds Paawan Mishthaan Bhandar, a traditional sweet shop that has become a famed Nepali landmark, with its ‘pedas’, considered to be some of the most delicious that you can find throughout the country.
Lumbini, in all of its understated religious glory alongside the historical value that it holds, is something that needs to be visited by travellers that want to see more than Nepal’s mountains. Whether or not you practise Buddhism or are religious, visiting this sacred site and its surroundings is certain to leave you with an appreciation for the workmanship that has gone into creating the various monasteries and temples found here, and a sense of peace that these spaces impart, alongside the beauty of the Nepalese plains, something that is often looked over when considering some of Nepal’s most striking natural landscape outside of the mountains.
