Lumbini

{{short description|Historical city in Lumbini Province, Nepal}} {{About|the Buddhist pilgrimage site}} {{EngvarB|date=December 2013}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2013}} {{Infobox settlement | name = Lumbini | native_name = लुम्बिनी | native_name_lang = ne | image_skyline = {{Photomontage | position = center | photo1a = BRP Lumbini Mayadevi temple.jpg | photo2a = The World Peace Pagoda - Lumbini.jpg | photo3a = BRP Lumbini Ashoka pillar.jpg | size = 290 | spacing = 2 | color = #FFFFFF | border = 0 | foot_montage = From top to bottom<br>Maya Devi Mandir, World Peace Pagoda and Ashoka Pillar }} | settlement_type = Ancient City | elevation_m = 150 | pushpin_map = Nepal Lumbini Province#Nepal | pushpin_relief = yes | pushpin_map_alt = | pushpin_map_caption = Location of Lumbini in Nepal | pushpin_label_position = top | coordinates = {{coord|27|28|53|N|83|16|33|E|display=inline}} | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = {{flag|Nepal}} | subdivision_type1 = Province | subdivision_name1 = Lumbini Province | subdivision_type2 = District | subdivision_name2 = Rupandehi | subdivision_type3 = Municipality | subdivision_name3 = Lumbini Sanskritik | government_type = Development trust | governing_body = Lumbini Development Trust | timezone1 = NST | utc_offset1 = +05:45 | postal_code_type = Postal code | postal_code = 32914 | area_code = | website = {{URL|www.lumbinidevtrust.gov.np}} | footnotes = | official_name = | image_caption = | module = {{Infobox UNESCO World Heritage Site |Child = Yes | Image = | image_size = | Location = Rupandehi District, Nepal | Criteria = Cultural: iii, vi | ID = 666 | Year = 1997 | Area = 198.95 ha | Buffer_zone = 22.78 ha | locmapin = | map_caption = Location in Nepal }} {{Infobox | child = yes | headerstyle = background: transparent; line-height: 1.1em; | header1 = <div style="border: 4px solid #DC143C; padding: 3px 6px; margin: 4px 6px; font-weight: bold; text-align: center; font-size: 100%; color: #DC143C;">Protected Ancient Monument</div> | label2 = Law | data2 = Ancient Monuments Preservation Act, 2013 (1956) | label3 = ID | data3 = NP-RP-02 }} }} [[File:Lumbini pillar Medieval inscription.jpg|thumb|Lumbini pillar inscription by King Ripumalla: "Om Mani Padme Hum Sri Ripu Malla Chiram Jayatu 1234 Saka Era" ("Om Mani Padme Hum May Prince Ripu Malla be long victorious")<ref name="Huu Phuoc p.269">Le Huu Phuoc, Buddhist Architecture, p.269</ref>|202x202px]]{{BuddhasHolySites}} {{Buddhist pilgrimage sites in India.svg}}

'''Lumbini''' ({{IPA|ne|/lʊmˈbiːni/|pron|Ne-Lumbini.oga}}, "the lovely" or "beautiful garden") is a Buddhist pilgrimage site in the Rupandehi District of Lumbini Province in Nepal. According to sacred texts and Buddhist commentaries, Maya Devi gave birth to Siddhartha Gautama in Lumbini, {{circa|563}} BCE.{{efn|Joshua Mark, "World History Encyclopaedia", 2020: ''The dates of the Buddha['s life] have been derived from various chronologies which all recognize that Siddhartha Gautama lived for 80 years but disagree on the dates those 80 years encompass. The chronologies are:'' 1.) Sri Lanka's Long Chronology: {{circa|624}} - {{circa|544}} BCE (The Convention) 2.) Alternative Long Chronology: {{circa|567}} - {{circa|487}} BCE 3.) India's Short Chronology: {{circa|448}} - {{circa|368}} BCE 4.) Contemporary Chronology: {{circa|563}} - {{circa|483}} BCE}}<ref name="UNESC01997">{{Cite web|url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/news/180/|title=World Heritage Committee Inscribes 46 New Sites on World Heritage List|first=UNESCO World Heritage|last=Centre|website=UNESCO World Heritage Centre}}</ref><ref name="UNESCO2014">{{cite web|url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/666|title=Lumbini, the Birthplace of the Lord Buddha|publisher=UNESCO|access-date=1 March 2011}}</ref> Siddhartha Gautama achieved Enlightenment and became Shakyamuni Buddha ({{langx|sa|शाक्यमुनि बुद्ध|4=the Enlightened Sage of the Śākyas}}) who founded Buddhism.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/666/|title=Lumbini, the Birthplace of the Lord Buddha – UNESCO World Heritage Centre|publisher=Whc.unesco.org|access-date=19 August 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|title="Gautama Buddha (B.C. 623-543)" by T.W. Rhys-Davids, The World's Great Events, B.C. 4004-A.D. 70 (1908) by Esther Singleton, pp. 124–35}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.booksie.com/religion_and_spirituality/article/myoma_myint_kywe/the-buddha-%28bc-623bc-543%29|title=The Buddha (BC 623-BC 543) – Religion and spirituality Article – Buddha, Bc, 623|publisher=Booksie|date=8 July 2012|access-date=19 August 2013}}</ref> He later passed into parinirvana at the age of eighty, {{circa|483 BCE}}.<ref name="Cousins1996">{{cite journal |last=Cousins |first=LS |author-link=L. S. Cousins |title=The Dating of the Historical Buddha: A Review Article |journal=Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society |volume=6 |issue=1 |pages=57–63 |year=1996 |doi=10.1017/s1356186300014760 |jstor=25183119 |s2cid=162929573 |url=http://indology.info/papers/cousins/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101220043745/http://indology.info/papers/cousins/ |archive-date=20 December 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Schumann|first=Hans Wolfgang|title=The Historical Buddha: The Times, Life, and Teachings of the Founder of Buddhism|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Press|year=2003|pages=10–13|isbn=8120818172}}</ref> Lumbini is one of four most sacred pilgrimage sites pivotal in the life of the Buddha.<ref>"The Eight Great Sacred Sites", ''Nekhor: Circling the Sacred'', Samye Translations.</ref>

Lumbini has a number of old temples, including the Mayadevi Temple, and several new temples funded by Buddhist organizations from various countries, a few of which are still under construction. Monuments, monasteries, stupas, a museum, and the Lumbini International Research Institute are also near to the holy site. There is a ''puskarini'', or holy pond, where Mayadevi, the Buddha's mother, is believed to have taken ritual cleansing prior to his birth, and where he was first bathed. At other sites near Lumbini, earlier Buddhas were born, achieved ultimate Enlightenment and finally relinquished their earthly forms.<ref name=":0" />

Lumbini was made a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1997.<ref name="UNESC01997" /><ref name="UNESCO2014" />{{refn|group=note|name="lumbini_location"|Buddhist scriptures and travel accounts of Chinese monks, Faxian and Xuanzang, describe relative location of cities Lumbini, Sravasti, Kapilavastu and Rajgir. Based on these data, recent work <ref>{{cite journal |last1=Mishra |first1=Ramakanta |date=December 2021 |title=Location of Kapilavastu: Resolving Contradictory Descriptions found in Buddhist Scriptures |journal=Journal of the U.S. Sangha for Buddhist Studies |url=https://www.jbspress.com/publications-1-issue |volume=02 |issue=2 |pages=64–76 |issn=2692-7357}}</ref> has used geometrical methods to pin-point the location of Lumbini. The results indicate that Kapilavastu and Lumbini were located to the south of Rajgir. Out of two historical Kosala's, South Koshala was located to the south of Rajgir. The results reject North Kosala as Gautama Buddha's native country.}}

==In Buddha's time== In the time of the Buddha, Lumbini was situated east of Kapilavastu and south-west of Devadaha of Shakya, an oligarchic republic.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://lumbini.planetwebnepal.com/?page_id=475|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117104444/http://lumbini.planetwebnepal.com/?page_id=475|url-status=usurped|archive-date=17 November 2015|title=Ramagrama-Devadaha |date=2013|website=lumbini.planetwebnepal.com|publisher=Lumbini Development Trust|access-date=2016-09-29}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.worldhistory.org/Kapilavastu/|title=Kapilavastu|last=Violatti|first=Cristian|date=12 December 2013|website=World History Encyclopedia|access-date=29 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160814122252/http://www.ancient.eu/Kapilavastu/|archive-date=14 August 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> According to the Buddhist tradition, it was there that the Buddha was born.<ref>J.i.52, 54; Kvu.97, 559; AA.i.10; MA.ii.924; BuA.227; Cv.li.10, etc.</ref> The Ashoka Pillar of Lumbini, a monolithic column with a Brahmi script inscription discovered at Rupandehi in 1896, is believed to mark the spot of Ashoka's visit to Lumbini. The site was not known as Lumbini before the pillar was discovered.<ref name="Sen">{{cite book |last=Sen |first=A. C. |title=Buddhist shrines in India |publisher=Maha Bodhi Book Agency |year=2008 |isbn=978-81-87032-78-6 |location=Kolkota |page=24}}</ref> The translation of inscription (by Paranavitana) reads:

{{quote|When King Devanampriya Priyadarsin had been anointed twenty years, he came himself and worshipped (this spot), because the Buddha Shakyamuni was born here. (He) both caused to be made a stone bearing a horse and caused a stone pillar to be set up, (in order to show) that the Blessed One was born here. (The King) made the village of Lumbini free of taxes, and paying (only) an eighth share (of the produce).<ref name="See Mukerji p. 27">See Mukerji: Asoka, p. 27; see p. 201f for details.</ref><ref>Paranavitana, S. (April–June 1962). "Rupandehi Pillar Inscription of Asoka", ''Journal of the American Oriental Society'', 82 (2), 163–167</ref>{{refn|group=note|name="translations"|Several alternative translations have been published.<ref>{{cite web |last = Weise |first = Kai |title = The Sacred Garden of Lumbini – Perceptions of Buddha's Birthplace |date = 2013|pages= 47–48|publisher = UNESCO |location= Paris |archive-date = 2014-08-30 |url = http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0022/002239/223986E.pdf |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140830011700/http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0022/002239/223986E.pdf |display-authors = etal}}</ref><ref>Hultzsch, E. (1925). [https://archive.org/details/InscriptionsOfAsoka.NewEditionByE.Hultzsch ''Inscriptions of Asoka'']. Oxford: Clarendon Press, pp. 164-165</ref>}} }}

The park was previously known as Rupandehi, {{convert|2|mi|abbr=on}} north of Bhagavanpura. The Sutta Nipáta (vs. 683) states 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.<ref>MA.ii.810</ref>

==Pillar of Ashoka== {{Further|Lumbini pillar inscription}} In 1896, former Nepalese Army General Khadga Shamsher Jang Bahadur Rana and Alois Anton Führer discovered a great stone pillar at Rupandehi. They used crucial historical records made by the famous Chinese monk-pilgrims Faxian (early 5th century CE), and Xuanzang (7th century CE). A Brahmi inscription found on the pillar gives evidence that Ashoka, emperor of the Maurya Empire, visited Lumbini in the 3rd-century BCE and identified it as the birth-place of the Buddha.

At the top of the pillar, there is a second inscription by King Ripumalla (1234 Saka Era, 13-14th century CE):

{{blockquote|''Om mani padme hum!'' May Prince Ripu Malla be long victorious, 1234 <ref name="Huu Phuoc p.269"/>|source=}}

A second pillar of Ashoka is located about 22 kilometers to the northwest of Lumbini, the Nigali Sagar pillar (with inscription), and a third one 24 kilometers to the west, the Gotihawa pillar (without inscription).

== Lumbini complex == [[File:Lumbini Buddhist pilgrimage IMG 0678 18.jpg|thumb|241x241px|World Peace Pagoda in Lumbini]] Lumbini is {{convert|4.8|km|0|abbr=on}} in length and {{convert|1.6|km|1|abbr=on}} in width. The holy site is bordered by a large monastic zone in which only monasteries can be built: no shops, hotels or restaurants are permitted. The complex is separated into an eastern and western monastic zone, with the eastern having the Theravadin monasteries, and the western holding Mahayana and Vajrayana monasteries. There is a long water filled canal separating the western and eastern zones, with a series of brick arch bridges joining the two sides along the length. The canal is serviced by simple outboard motor boats at the north end which provides tours. The holy site of Lumbini has ruins of ancient monasteries, a sacred Bodhi tree, an ancient bathing pond, the Ashokan pillar and the Mayadevi Temple, a site traditionally considered to be the birthplace of the Buddha. From early morning to early evening, pilgrims from various countries perform chanting and meditation at the site.

<gallery> File:Nepal DSCN2126a.jpg|Ancient ruins at Lumbini File:Lumbini, Buddhist pilgrims 2, Tree, Nepal.jpg|Bodhi tree File:Mayadevi Temple and ruins of ancient monasteries in Lumbini 03.jpg|Mayadevi Temple and ruins of ancient monasteries </gallery>

Lumbini complex is divided into three areas: the Sacred Garden, the Monastic Zone and the Cultural Center and New Lumbini Village. The Sacred Garden remains the epicenter of the Lumbini area and consists of the birthplace of Buddha and other monuments of archaeological and spiritual importance such as the Mayadevi Temple, the Ashoka Pillar, the Marker Stone, the Nativity Sculpture, Puskarini Sacred Pond and other structural ruins of Buddhist stupas and viharas. The Monastic Zone, spanning an area of one square mile is divided into two zones: the East Monastic Zone which represents Theravada school of Buddhism and the West Monastic Zone which represents Mahayana and Vajrayana school of Buddhism, with their respective monasteries on the either side of a long pedestrian walkway and canal. Marking the monastic spot as a sacred pilgrimage site, many countries have established Buddhist stupas and monasteries in the monastic zone with their unique historical, cultural and spiritual designs. The Cultural Center and New Lumbini Village comprises Lumbini Museum, Lumbini International Research Institute, World Peace Pagoda of Japan, Lumbini Crane Sanctuary and other administrative offices.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|publisher=Lumbini Development Trust |title=Birthplace of Buddha, Historical Place of Nepal, The World Heritage SiteLumbini Development Trust|url=http://lumbinidevtrust.gov.np/en/lumbini/content/19|access-date=2022-01-28|website=lumbinidevtrust.gov.np}}</ref> In 2021, The Government of Bangladesh signed an agreement to construct a Buddhist monastery in Lumbini under the chairmanship of former premier of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina with an intention of keeping a "symbol of Bangladesh at the birthplace of Lord Gautam Buddha".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Express |first=The Financial |title=Bangladesh set an instance of religious harmony: PM |url=https://today.thefinancialexpress.com.bd/metro-news/bangladesh-set-an-instance-of-religious-harmony-pm-1716654528 |access-date=2025-06-28 |website=The Financial Express |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-10-08 |title=Bangladesh to construct Buddhist Monastery in Nepal’s Lumbini |url=https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/bangladesh-construct-buddhist-monastery-nepals-lumbini-313219 |access-date=2025-06-28 |website=The Business Standard |language=en}}</ref> Similarly, in 2023, Russian Ambassador to Nepal Aleksei Novikov laid the foundation for the Russian Buddhist monastery in Lumbini to represent Russian Federation as well.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Construction of Russian Buddhist Temple begins in Lumbini |url=https://kathmandupost.com/money/2023/11/17/construction-of-russian-buddhist-temple-begins-in-lumbini |access-date=2025-06-28 |website=kathmandupost.com |language=English}}</ref>

<gallery widths="150" heights="150"> File:Nepal Temple.JPG|Nepalese Temple File:Lumbini-44-indischer Tempel-2013-gje.jpg|Indian Temple File:Shanti stupa, World Peace Pagoda, Lumbini.jpg|Japanese Stupa File:Royal Thai Monastery, Lumbini.jpg|Royal Thailand Monastery File:Zhong Hua Chinese Buddhist Monastery, Lumbini, Nepal.jpg|Chinese Monastery File:German Buddhist Temple (9105852247).jpg|German Monastery File:French monastery.jpg|French Monastery File:2015-03-16 Lumbini（Sri Lanka temple）ルンビニ・スリランカ寺 DSCF1296.jpg|Sri Lankan Temple File:Stupa in Lumbini.jpg|South Korean Temple File:2015-03-16 Lumbini（Cambodian Monastery）ルンビニ・カンボジア寺 DSCF1438.jpg|Cambodian Monastery File:Austrian monastery 2.jpg|Austrian Monastery File:Singapore monastery.jpg|Singapore Monastery File:Temple By Canada.jpg|Canadian Temple File:Vietnamese Temple (Phat Quoc Tu) in Lumbini, Nepal 2019-04-09.jpg|Vietnamese Temple File:Urgen Dorjee Choling Buddhist Centre, Lumbini, Nepal.jpg|Urgen Dorjee Choling Centre File:The Golden Temple in Lumbini.jpg|Golden Temple of Myanmar File:Construction of "Russian" Buddhist Monestery at Lumbini the birthplace of the Lord Buddha.jpg|Russian Monastery (under construction, April 2024) </gallery>

== Religious significance == [[File:Lumbini 1.jpg|thumb|201x201px|Marker stone of Gautama Buddha's birth at Mayadevi Temple]] Before parinirvana at the age of eighty, Gautama Buddha gave a sermon to his disciples on the significance of Lumbini as a place of pilgrimage (Dīghanikāya, 16; Mahāparinibbāṇa Sutta):<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000223986 |title=The Sacred garden of Lumbini |publisher=UNESCO |year=2019 |isbn=978-92-3-001208-3 |access-date=2024-04-09}}</ref>

{{Quote |There are, O monks, four places on earth which a believing householder's son or a believing householder's daughter should commemorate as long as they live. Which are those four? –here the Venerable One has been born – here the Venerable One has attained the unsurpassable complete enlightenment – here the Venerable One has turned the threefold-turning, twelve-spoked lawful wheel – here the Venerable One has gone to the realm of complete nirvāṇa.|Dīgha Nikāya, 16; Mahāparinibbāṇa Sutta }}

Along with Lumbini, which is the Buddha's place of birth, Bodh Gaya where he attained enlightenment, Sarnath where he gave his first sermon and Kushinagar where he attained parinirvana are the four most significant pilgrimage sites in Buddhism. These four places form a pilgrimage circuit along Buddha's Holy Sites.

== Excavation at the Mayadevi Temple in 2013 == thumb|264x264px|"May Peace Prevail on Earth" sign in front of the gate of Lumbini New excavations in the Mayadevi temple in Lumbini in 2013 revealed a series of the most ancient Buddhist shrines in South Asia extending the history of the site to a much earlier date.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Earliest Buddhist shrines in South Asia discovered in Lumbini, Buddha's birthplace in Nepal |url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1053/ |access-date=2023-06-30 |website=UNESCO World Heritage Centre |language=en}}</ref> According to Robin Coningham, excavations beneath existing brick structures at the Mayadevi Temple at Lumbini provide evidence for an older timber structure beneath the walls of a brick Buddhist shrine built during the Ashokan era (3rd-century BCE). The layout of the Ashokan shrine closely follows that of the earlier timber structure, which suggests a continuity of worship at the site. The pre-Mauryan timber structure appears to be an ancient tree shrine. Radiocarbon dating of charcoal from the wooden postholes and optically stimulated luminescence dating of elements in the soil suggests human activity began at Lumbini around 1000 BCE.<ref name="Coningham2013">{{cite journal |last1=Coningham |first1=R. A. E. |last2=Acharya |first2=K. P. |last3=Strickland |first3=K. M. |last4=Davis |first4=C. E. |last5=Manuel |first5=M. J. |last6=Simpson |first6=I. A. |last7=Gilliland |first7=K. |last8=Tremblay |first8=J. |last9=Kinnaird |first9=T. C. |last10=Sanderson |first10=D. C. W. |year=2013 |title=The earliest Buddhist shrine: excavating the birthplace of the Buddha, Lumbini (Nepal) |journal=Antiquity |volume=87 |issue=338 |pages=1104–23 |doi=10.1017/s0003598x00049899 |s2cid=54601247 |doi-access=free}}</ref> The site, states Coningham, may be a Buddhist monument from 6th-century BCE. Other scholars state that the excavations revealed nothing that is Buddhist, and they only confirm that the site predates the Buddha.<ref>Richard Gombrich (2013), [https://ocbs.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/rfg1213.pdf "Pseudo-discoveries at Lumbini"], Oxford Center for Buddhist Studies, Oxford University</ref><ref name="Fogelin2015">{{cite book |last=Fogelin |first=Lars |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tRV0BgAAQBAJ |title=An Archaeological History of Indian Buddhism |date=2 March 2015 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-994822-2}}</ref>

==Other developments== [[File:Antonio Guterres speech in Lumbini, 2023.jpg|thumb|223x223px|António Guterres, secretary-general of the United Nations speaking in Lumbini on his Nepal visit (2023)]] [[File:PM in a Bilateral Meeting with the Prime Minister of Nepal, Mr. Sher Bahadur Deuba, in Lumbini, Nepal on May 16, 2022.jpg|thumb|224x224px|Prime Minister of Nepal Sher Bahadur Deuba with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Lumbini on Buddha Purnima ]] In 2013, Nepal's central bank introduced a 100-rupee Nepali note featuring Lumbini. The Nepal Rastra Bank said the new note would be accessible only during the Dashain, Nepal's major festival in September or October. It displays a portrait of Mayadevi in metallic silver on the front. The note also has a black dot on it to help visually impaired people recognise it. The name of the central bank is printed on the note in Roman script along with the date of printing in both the Gregorian calendar and the Bikrami calendar. The note was issued following a cabinet decision 27 August 2013.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.indistannews.com/buddhas-birthplace-in-nepals-100-rupee-note/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202224201/http://www.indistannews.com/buddhas-birthplace-in-nepals-100-rupee-note/|url-status=dead|title=Buddha's birthplace in Nepal's 100-rupee note|date=9 September 2013|website=Indistan News|archive-date=2 December 2013}}</ref>

Nipponzan Myohoji decided to build a Peace Pagoda in the park in 2001, which is visited by many different cultures and religions every day. Because some Hindus regard the Buddha as an incarnation of Vishnu, thousands of Hindus have begun to come here on pilgrimage during the full moon of the Nepali month of Baisakh (April–May) to worship Queen Mayadevi as Rupa Devi, the mother goddess of Lumbini. Lumbini was granted World Heritage status by UNESCO in 1997.<ref name="UNESC01997" /><ref name="UNESCO2014" />

In 2011, Lumbini Development National Director Committee was formed under the leadership of Prime Minister Prachanda.The committee was given the authority to "draft a master plan to develop Lumbini as a peaceful and tourism area and table the proposal" and the responsibility to gather international support for the same.<ref name="ekantipur1">{{cite web |title=Lumbini Development Committee formed under Dahal's leadership |url=http://www.ekantipur.com/2011/10/17/top-story/lumbini-development-committee-formed-under-dahals-leadership/342357.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111221070828/http://www.ekantipur.com/2011/10/17/top-story/lumbini-development-committee-formed-under-dahals-leadership/342357.html |archive-date=21 December 2011 |access-date=17 October 2011 |publisher=ekantipur}}</ref>

In 2022 on Buddha's Birthday, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Nepalese Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, jointly laid the foundation stone for the Indian monastery in Lumbini.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lumbini Development Trust- Birthplace of Buddha, Historical Place of Nepal, The World Heritage SiteLumbini Development Trust |url=https://lumbinidevtrust.gov.np/en/home/news/details/291 |access-date=2024-04-03 |website=lumbinidevtrust.gov.np}}</ref> Nepal-India cultural events are held annually in Lumbini highlighting the close spiritual and cultural connection between the two countries.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Republica |title=Nepal-India cultural festival held in Lumbini |url=http://myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com/news/149049/ |access-date=2024-04-03 |website=My Republica |language=en}}</ref> António Guterres, secretary-general of the United Nations made a visit to Lumbini in the October of 2023 and "urged everyone to reflect on the core teachings of Buddhism and their relevance in today’s troubled world ", highlighting conflicts around the world from Middle East to Ukraine to Africa, undermining of global rules and their devastating impacts on ordinary people, especially women and children.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-10-31 |title=On sacred ground in Nepal, UN chief calls for global action for peace {{!}} UN News |url=https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/10/1143047 |access-date=2024-10-09 |website=news.un.org |language=en}}</ref>

==Tourism== In 2019, Lumbini received 1.5 million tourists from around the world.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Sansar|first=Nepali|date=2020-01-06|title=Lumbini Tourist Arrivals Reach 1.5 Million in 2019|url=https://www.nepalisansar.com/tourism/lumbini-tourist-arrivals-reach-1-5-million-in-2019/|access-date=2022-01-28|website=Nepali Sansar|language=en-US}}</ref>

===Transport=== Lumbini is a 10-hour drive from Kathmandu and a 30-minute drive from Bhairahawa. The closest airport is Gautam Buddha Airport at Bhairahawa, with flights to and from Kathmandu.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://welcomenepal.com/promotional/tourist-destination/lumbini/|title=Lumbini|publisher=Welcome Nepal|access-date=19 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130817184319/http://welcomenepal.com/promotional/tourist-destination/lumbini/|archive-date=17 August 2013|url-status=usurped}}</ref>

===Places to visit=== * Maya Devi Temple * World Peace Pagoda, Lumbini * Ashoka Pillar of Lumbini * Lumbini Crane Sanctuary<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.buddha-statues.info/|title=Things to do in Lumbini - birthplace of Buddha | Buddha Statues|website=www.buddha-statues.info}}</ref>

===Hotels=== An increase in international tourism in the 2010s combined with the development of Gautam Buddha International Airport have led to significant investment in the construction of hotels in and around Lumbini,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sen |first=Sandeep |date=16 December 2018 |title=New hotels being constructed in Lumbini |url=https://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/new-hotels-being-constructed-in-lumbini |access-date=28 June 2025 |newspaper=The Himalayan Times |language=en}}</ref> with 80 new hotels being constructed in the region in 2017.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Airport construction triggers hotel boom in Rupandehi |url=https://kathmandupost.com/money/2018/04/12/airport-construction-triggers-hotel-boom-in-rupandehi |access-date=28 June 2025 |newspaper=The Kathmandu Post |language=English |first=Amrita |last=Anamol |date=12 April 2018 }}</ref>

== Sister cities== Lumbini has four official sister cities: *{{flagicon|India}} Kushinagar, India (2022)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://zeenews.india.com/india/india-nepal-agree-to-establish-sister-city-relations-between-lumbini-and-kushinagar-check-details-of-mous-signed-today-2464090.html | title=India-Nepal agree to establish sister-city relations between Lumbini and Kushinagar; check details of MoUs signed today |date=16 May 2022 |website=Zee News }}</ref> *{{flagicon|India}} Bodh Gaya, India<ref>{{cite press release |title=Outcomes during the visit of Prime Minister to Nepal (November 25-27, 2014): MoU on Twinning arrangements between Kathmandu-Varanasi, Janakpur-Ayodhya and Lumbini-Bodh Gaya as sister cities |url=https://mea.gov.in/media-advisory.htm?dtl/24322/Outcomes+during+the+visit+of+Prime+Minister+to+Nepal+November+2527+2014 |website=Government of India: Ministry of External Affairs |date=26 November 2014}}</ref> *{{flagicon|Spain}} Cáceres, Spain<ref>{{cite web |title=Cáceres y Lumbini Rubrican su Hermanamiento en un 'Día Histórico' |date=8 April 2021 |url=https://www.ayto-caceres.es/noticias/caceres-y-lumbini-rubrican-su-hermanamiento-en-un-dia-historico/ |website=Cáceres City Council |lang=es |trans-title=Cáceres and Lumbini Sign their Twinning on a 'Historic Day'}}</ref> *{{Flagicon|Japan}} Kōya, Japan<ref>{{Cite web |website=Lumbini Development Trust |title=Lumbini-Nepal and Koya Town-Japan twinned Sister City |url=https://lumbinidevtrust.gov.np/en/home/news/details/51 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180330113802/https://lumbinidevtrust.gov.np/en/home/news/details/51 |archive-date=30 March 2018 }}</ref>

==Notes== {{reflist|group=note}} {{noteslist}}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==Further reading== *{{cite book |title=Lumbini - The birthplace of Lord Buddha in Nepal. Completing the Kenzo Tange master Plan. |publisher=UNESCO |url=https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000220846}}

==Bibliography== * {{Citation |last = Weise |first = Kai |title = The Sacred Garden of Lumbini – Perceptions of Buddha's Birthplace |date = 2013 |publisher = UNESCO |location= Paris |archive-date = 2014-08-30 |url = http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0022/002239/223986E.pdf |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140830011700/http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0022/002239/223986E.pdf |display-authors = etal}}

==External links== {{Commons category|Lumbini}} {{EB1911 poster|Lumbinī}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20150912072331/http://www.lumkap.org.uk/ Lumbini On Trial: The Untold Story] * {{Wikivoyage inline}} * [http://www.dmoz.org/search?q=Lumbini Lumbini at the Open Directory Project] * [https://www.worldheritagesite.org/list/Lumbini Lumbini at WorldHeritageSite.org Listing]

Category:Buddhist pilgrimage sites in Nepal Category:Populated places in Rupandehi District Category:World Heritage Sites in Nepal Category:Rupandehi District Category:Buddhist archaeological sites Category:Archaeological sites in Nepal Category:Cultural heritage of Nepal