Regarded as the traveller’s paradise, Nepal is not only known for its high Himalayan peaks and rustic landscapes, but also its enchanting and diverse cultural beliefs, history, and heritage. Being the birthplace of Lord Buddha, Nepal is bestowed with spiritual tourism. Spirituality adds a completely new dimension to travel, by empowering your inner self and helping in “uniting” man and nature. Spiritual heritage is not just a matter of pride for the Nepalese people, but also one of the prominent contributors to its nation's economy.
In Nepal, you will find the best possible amalgamation of different religious and ethnic groups, for example, Hindus and Buddhists have lived here with peace and prosperity, for many centuries. And what could be better than the birthplace of Lord Buddha for anyone looking to pursue a spiritual life?
Lumbini, a “UNESCO World Heritage Site”, is the place where the story of Lord Buddha - the founder of Buddhism - begins. It is believed that Buddha was born in 623 BC, while his mother was traveling to her parental home. Lumbini which is also known as “Pradimoksha Vana '', is located in the southern part of Nepal in the Rupandehi district and is the major pilgrimage destination that attracts a huge number of global Buddhist tourists. The site is now developed as a Buddhist Pilgrimage center where archaeological remains of Lord Buddha are still preserved. This sacred place has many Buddhist monasteries, museums, monuments, etc. Lumbini is bordered by a large monastic zone where only monasteries can be built. It is separated into an eastern and western monastic zone – the eastern zone has the Theravadin monasteries whereas the western zone has Mahayana and Vajrayana monasteries.
Lumbini is one of the magnets for pilgrimage that sprang up in the places pivotal to the Life of Buddha. The holy site has a sacred Bodhi tree, ancient monasteries, the Ashoka Pillar, an ancient bathing pond (the Pushkarini), and the Maya Devi Temple- the supposed place of Lord Buddha’s birth.
The Maya Devi Temple
This is the main temple at Lumbini, a site traditionally considered to be the birthplace of Gautama Buddha. The temple is dedicated to Queen Mayadevi who was the mother of Lord Buddha. It stands adjacent to a sacred pool known as Pushkarini and a sacred garden. The archaeological remains at this site were previously dated to the third-century BCE brick buildings constructed by Ashoka. The archaeologists and researchers speculated that this site is the earliest evidence of Buddhist structures and the first archaeological evidence of Gautama Buddha's life. It is set on the exact spot where, according to Buddhist scriptures, the mother of Buddha walked 20 paces, faced east, and grabbed the branch of a tree, before giving birth to Siddhartha Gautama.
The temple is surrounded by ancient structures and monasteries. Long lines of colorful prayer flags are strung between trees, which carry prayers and mantras heavenward as they flap in the cool breeze.
The Pushkarini Pond
The holy Pushkarini Pond is just outside the Maya Devi temple. It is another important part of history. This is the pond where Buddha’s Mother took a bath prior to his birth as a ritual. And also the newly born Prince took his first bath in this pond only. Just after the birth, it is believed that Buddha walked seven steps and at each of his steps, lotus flowers bloomed miraculously.
The Ashoka Pillar
Ashoka's pillar, near the temple, is another important landmark in the history of Lumbini and Buddhism. This pillar was amongst some structures which led to the “rediscovery” of the holy site in 1895when a German archaeologist named Alois Führer unearthed these structures built by Ashoka.
It was built by the great Indian Emperor Ashoka who became a devout Buddhist while visiting the birthplace of the Buddha back in 249 BC. To preserve the pillar it has now been surrounded by a small fence. The devotees and tourists can light incense sticks and meditate there. Some other tourist attractions in Lumbini are Myanmar Golden Temple, World Peace Pagoda, China Temple, Dharma Swami Maharaja Buddha Vihar, and Lumbini Museum.
Lumbini Museum
Lumbini Museum is dedicated to The Great Lord Buddha. It has several paintings, photos of different Buddhist sites, and a collection of artifacts. The museum possesses sculptures and religious manuscripts. Thousands of devotees and tourists who are interested in Buddhism and keen to know more about this religion and its preaching visit the place every year.
Each monastery is distinct as they are built by Buddhists from different countries. All of them display a wonderful collection of different architectural styles, capturing the whole world. One of the most impressive buildings is the Myanmar Golden Temple. Its golden architecture is simple yet gorgeous! It was built in honor of Lord Buddha. It has three prayer halls and also a residential complex for pilgrims.
World Peace Pagoda also known as Bishwa Shanti Stupa, is another prominent building. This place has its own charm. The peace you can obtain from this place is surely incomparable! Wonderful view of nature and the chirping of birds makes this place very unique. You can just view the surroundings and experience true inner peace.
The trip to Lumbini will truly be a peaceful and spiritual experience. It is the place where Lord Buddha enjoyed luxury as Prince Siddharth before heading towards his path of “enlightenment”. This is the only place where religion has been mapped precisely to the real-world landscape.