Lumbini is famous throughout the world for being the birthplace of one of the most influential thinkers and teachers in the history of mankind – the Buddha.  A major destination for Buddhist pilgrims, Lumbini is a place for meditation, renewal and aspiration by visitors.

The outstanding universal value of Lumbini was recognised in 1997 when the place was inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List.  Being listed as a World Heritage Site reinforces the Nepalese government’s commitment to the cultural and spiritual preservation of Lumbini with continued archaeological research, conservation work, and sustainable site management.

The Buddha was born as Prince Sidhhartha, heir to King Suddhodhana and Queen Maya of the Shakya clan.  According to Buddhist traditions, more than 2500 years ago, Queen Maya had a dream of a white elephant entering a womb – a sure sign of an auspicious pregnancy.  She was soon pregnant and after months, she was due to give birth.   As per the customs of that time, she had to return to her matrimonial home to give birth.  Along the way, she stopped at Lumbini where she gave birth to the Prince while holding on to a Sal tree branch.

According to the Mahaparinirvana Sutra, the Buddha instructed Ananda, His personal attendant, that Buddhists who wishes to commemorate and remember the Buddha can visit four places related to His life.  Lumbini – where He was borned; Bodh Gaya – where He attained Enlightenment;  Sarnath – where He gave His first Sermon; and Kushinagara – where He entered Parinirvana.

The authenticity of Lumbini’s status as the birthplace of the Buddha is borne by various artefacts and monuments, some going back thousands of years.  There is the Asoka Pillar and remains of viharas, stupas and brick structures dating back from 3^rd century B.C.

in its original form, Lumbini was a simple village surrounded by dense forest.  With the birth of Prince Siddhartha, the Enlightenment of the Buddha and His eventual Parinirvana, Lumbini acquired a sacred status with the resulting construction of temples and stupas around the area.  Over time, the temples and stupas are abandoned but today the remains of these monuments remain.

Lumbini is located 25km away from Tilaurakot (to the west) – site of the ancient palace of the Sakya Kingdom.  Towards the east, 55km away is Devdaha, site of the Koliya Kingdom, birthplace of Queen Maya.

Today Lumbini is designed under a masterplan to be protected by a three by one mile area with a circular levee and monastic zones to ensure emulation of how Lumbini looked in the past.  Inside the protected area is the Maya Devi Complex - a landscaped garden consisting of the Maya Devi temple, Puskarini (Holy Pond where the baby prince had his first bath), an Ashoka pillar and a Bodhi tree.

The major structure inside the area is the Maha Devi Temple, built to protect the archaeological remains of an ancient temple built to mark the birthplace of the Prince Siddhartha. Located within the area in an outer three by three mile zone are Buddhist temples from different countries - Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Thai, Cambodian etc.

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