Lumbini

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Historical city in Lumbini Province, Nepal

title: "Lumbini" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["buddhist-pilgrimage-sites-in-nepal", "populated-places-in-rupandehi-district", "world-heritage-sites-in-nepal", "rupandehi-district", "buddhist-archaeological-sites", "archaeological-sites-in-nepal", "cultural-heritage-of-nepal"] description: "Historical city in Lumbini Province, Nepal" topic_path: "philosophy" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lumbini" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Historical city in Lumbini Province, Nepal ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]

FieldValue
nameLumbini Nepal
native_nameलुम्बिनी नेपाल
native_name_langne
image_skyline{{Photomontage
positioncenter
photo1aBRP Lumbini Mayadevi temple.jpg
photo2aThe World Peace Pagoda - Lumbini.jpg
photo3aBRP Lumbini Ashoka pillar.jpg
size290
spacing2
color#FFFFFF
border0
foot_montageFrom top to bottom
Maya Devi Mandir, World Peace Pagoda and Ashoka Pillar
settlement_typeCity
elevation_m150
pushpin_mapNepal Lumbini Province#Nepal
pushpin_reliefyes
pushpin_map_captionLocation of Lumbini in Nepal
pushpin_label_positiontop
coordinates
subdivision_typeCountry
subdivision_nameNepal
subdivision_type1Province
subdivision_name1Lumbini Province
subdivision_type2District
subdivision_name2Rupandehi
subdivision_type3Municipality
subdivision_name3Lumbini Sanskritik
government_typeDevelopment trust
governing_bodyLumbini Development Trust
timezone1NST
utc_offset1+05:45
postal_code_typePostal code
postal_code32914
website
::

::callout[type=note] the Buddhist pilgrimage site ::

| name = Lumbini Nepal | native_name = लुम्बिनी नेपाल | 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 Maya Devi Mandir, World Peace Pagoda and Ashoka Pillar | settlement_type = 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 = | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = 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 = | footnotes = | official_name = | image_caption = | WHS = Lumbini, the Birthplace of the Lord Buddha | 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 = | coordinates = | map_caption = Location in Nepal ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/95/BRP_Lumbini_Ashoka_pillar.jpg" caption="Ashoka Pillar of Lumbini"] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/94/Lumbini_pillar_Medieval_inscription.jpg" caption="202x202px]]{{BuddhasHolySites}}"] ::

Lumbinī (, 'the lovely') is a Buddhist pilgrimage site in the Rupandehi District of Lumbini Province in Nepal. According to the sacred texts of the Buddhist Commentaries, Maya Devi gave birth to Siddhartha Gautama in Lumbini in 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: - BCE (The Convention) 2.) Alternative Long Chronology: - BCE 3.) India's Short Chronology: - BCE 4.) Contemporary Chronology: - BCE}} Siddhartha Gautama achieved Enlightenment and became Shakyamuni Buddha () who founded Buddhism. He later passed into parinirvana at the age of eighty, in . Lumbini is one of four most sacred pilgrimage sites pivotal in the life of the Buddha.

Lumbini has a number of old temples, including the Mayadevi Temple, and several new temples, funded by Buddhist organisations from various countries. Most of the temples have already been completed and some are still under construction. Many monuments, monasteries, stupas, a museum, and the Lumbini International Research Institute are also near to the holy site. The Puskarini, or Holy Pond, is where Mayadevi, the Buddha's mother, is believed to have taken the ritual bath prior to his birth and where the Buddha also had his first bath. At other sites near Lumbini, earlier Buddhas were born, then achieved ultimate Enlightenment and finally relinquished their earthly forms.

Lumbini was made a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1997.

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. According to the Buddhist tradition, it was there that the Buddha was born. Ashoka Pillar of Lumbini, a monolithic column with an inscription in the ancient Brahmi script 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. The translation of inscription (by Paranavitana) reads:

::quote

::

The park was previously known as Rupandehi, 2 mi 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.

Pillar of Ashoka

In 1896, former Commander-In-Chief of the Nepalese Army General Khadga Shamsher Jang Bahadur Rana and Alois Anton Führer discovered a great stone pillar at Rupandehi, according to the crucial historical records made by the ancient Chinese monk-pilgrim Xuanzang in the 7th century CE and by another ancient Chinese monk-pilgrim Faxian in the early 5th century CE. The Brahmi inscription on the pillar gives evidence that Ashoka, emperor of the Maurya Empire, visited the place in 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), who is also known from an inscription at the Nigali Sagar pillar:

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

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/24/Lumbini_Buddhist_pilgrimage_IMG_0678_18.jpg" caption="World Peace Pagoda]] in Lumbini"] ::

Lumbini is 4.8 km in length and 1.6 km in width. The holy site of Lumbini is bordered by a large monastic zone in which only monasteries can be built, no shops, 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. 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.

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

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. 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". 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.

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)

Religious significance

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a7/Lumbini_1.jpg" caption="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):

::quote[attribution="[[Dīgha Nikāya]], 16; [[Mahāparinibbāṇa Sutta]]"] 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. ::

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

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1d/"May_Peace_Prevail_on_Earth"_sign_in_front_gate_of_Lumbini_Nepal.jpg" caption=""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. 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. 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.

Other developments

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/67/Antonio_Guterres_speech_in_Lumbini,_2023.jpg" caption="[[António Guterres]], [[secretary-general of the United Nations]] speaking in Lumbini on his Nepal visit (2023)"] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0f/PM_in_a_Bilateral_Meeting_with_the_Prime_Minister_of_Nepal,_Mr._Sher_Bahadur_Deuba,_in_Lumbini,_Nepal_on_May_16,_2022.jpg" caption="Buddha Purnima]]"] ::

Nepal's central bank has introduced a 100-rupee Nepali note featuring Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha. The Nepal Rastra Bank said the new note would be accessible only during the Dashain, Nepal's major festival in the time of September/October. It displays the portrait of Mayadevi, Gautam Buddha's mother in silver metallic on the front. The note also has a black dot which would help the blind recognise the note. The name of the central bank in Roman script would be printed on the note along with the date of printing in both the Gregorian Era and the Bikram Era. The new note is being issued following a cabinet decision 27 August.

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.

In 2011, Lumbini Development National Director Committee wad 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.

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. Nepal-India cultural events are held annually in Lumbini highlighting the close spiritual and cultural connection between the two countries. 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.

Tourism

In 2019, Lumbini received 1.5 million tourists from around the world.

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.

Places to visit

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, with 80 new hotels being constructed in the region in 2017.

Sister cities

Lumbini has four official sister cities:

Notes

References

Bibliography

References

  1. Le Huu Phuoc, Buddhist Architecture, p.269
  2. Centre, UNESCO World Heritage. "World Heritage Committee Inscribes 46 New Sites on World Heritage List".
  3. "Lumbini, the Birthplace of the Lord Buddha". UNESCO.
  4. "Lumbini, the Birthplace of the Lord Buddha – UNESCO World Heritage Centre". Whc.unesco.org.
  5. ""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".
  6. (8 July 2012). "The Buddha (BC 623-BC 543) – Religion and spirituality Article – Buddha, Bc, 623". Booksie.
  7. Cousins, LS. (1996). "The Dating of the Historical Buddha: A Review Article". Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society.
  8. Schumann, Hans Wolfgang. (2003). "The Historical Buddha: The Times, Life, and Teachings of the Founder of Buddhism". Motilal Banarsidass Press.
  9. "The Eight Great Sacred Sites", ''Nekhor: Circling the Sacred'', Samye Translations.
  10. (December 2021). "Location of Kapilavastu: Resolving Contradictory Descriptions found in Buddhist Scriptures". Journal of the U.S. Sangha for Buddhist Studies.
  11. (2013). "Ramagrama-Devadaha". Lumbini Development Trust.
  12. Violatti, Cristian. (12 December 2013). "Kapilavastu".
  13. J.i.52, 54; Kvu.97, 559; AA.i.10; MA.ii.924; BuA.227; Cv.li.10, etc.
  14. Sen, A. C.. (2008). "Buddhist shrines in India". Maha Bodhi Book Agency.
  15. See Mukerji: Asoka, p. 27; see p. 201f for details.
  16. Paranavitana, S. (April–June 1962). "[[Rupandehi District. Rupandehi]] Pillar Inscription of Asoka", ''Journal of the American Oriental Society'', 82 (2), 163–167
  17. Weise, Kai. (2013). "The Sacred Garden of Lumbini – Perceptions of Buddha's Birthplace". UNESCO.
  18. Hultzsch, E. (1925). [https://archive.org/details/InscriptionsOfAsoka.NewEditionByE.Hultzsch ''Inscriptions of Asoka'']. Oxford: Clarendon Press, pp. 164-165
  19. MA.ii.810
  20. "Birthplace of Buddha, Historical Place of Nepal, The World Heritage SiteLumbini Development Trust". Lumbini Development Trust.
  21. Express, The Financial. "Bangladesh set an instance of religious harmony: PM".
  22. (2021-10-08). "Bangladesh to construct Buddhist Monastery in Nepal’s Lumbini".
  23. "Construction of Russian Buddhist Temple begins in Lumbini".
  24. (2019). "The Sacred garden of Lumbini". UNESCO.
  25. "Earliest Buddhist shrines in South Asia discovered in Lumbini, Buddha's birthplace in Nepal".
  26. (2013). "The earliest Buddhist shrine: excavating the birthplace of the Buddha, Lumbini (Nepal)". Antiquity.
  27. [[Richard Gombrich]] (2013), [https://ocbs.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/rfg1213.pdf "Pseudo-discoveries at Lumbini"], Oxford Center for Buddhist Studies, Oxford University
  28. Fogelin, Lars. (2 March 2015). "An Archaeological History of Indian Buddhism". Oxford University Press.
  29. "Buddha's birthplace in Nepal's 100-rupee note – Indistan News – National, Political and States News".
  30. "Lumbini Development Committee formed under Dahal's leadership". ekantipur.
  31. "Lumbini Development Trust- Birthplace of Buddha, Historical Place of Nepal, The World Heritage SiteLumbini Development Trust".
  32. Republica. "Nepal-India cultural festival held in Lumbini".
  33. (2023-10-31). "On sacred ground in Nepal, UN chief calls for global action for peace {{!}} UN News".
  34. Sansar, Nepali. (2020-01-06). "Lumbini Tourist Arrivals Reach 1.5 Million in 2019".
  35. "Lumbini". Welcome Nepal.
  36. "Things to do in Lumbini - birthplace of Buddha | Buddha Statues".
  37. Sen, Sandeep. (16 December 2018). "New hotels being constructed in Lumbini". The Himalayan Times.
  38. Anamol, Amrita. (12 April 2018). "Airport construction triggers hotel boom in Rupandehi". The Kathmandu Post.
  39. (16 May 2022). "India-Nepal agree to establish sister-city relations between Lumbini and Kushinagar; check details of MoUs signed today".
  40. (26 November 2014). "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".
  41. (8 April 2021). "Cáceres y Lumbini Rubrican su Hermanamiento en un 'Día Histórico'".
  42. "Lumbini-Nepal and Koya Town-Japan twinned Sister City".

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buddhist-pilgrimage-sites-in-nepalpopulated-places-in-rupandehi-districtworld-heritage-sites-in-nepalrupandehi-districtbuddhist-archaeological-sitesarchaeological-sites-in-nepalcultural-heritage-of-nepal