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Lumbini Travel Guide
The nearest town to reach Lumbini is Bhairahawa, which is connected with Kathmandu
& Pokhara by air and road. Bhairahawa and Lumbini are connected with an
all weather road and regular bus service is availble
The birthplace of Lord Buddha
Lumbini-a place in the South-Western Terai of Nepal, evokes a kind of holy sentiment
to the millions of Buddhists all over the world-as do the Jerusalem to Christians
and Mecca to Muslims. Lumbini is the place Lord Buddha -the apostle of peace
and the light of Asia was born in 623 B. C., Located in the flat plains of south-Western
Nepal and the foothills of Churia range , Lumbini and its surrounding area is
endowed with a rich natural setting of domesticable fauna and favourable agricultural
environ. Historically, the region is an exquisite treasure-trove of ancient
ruisn and antiquities, dating back to pre-Christian era. The site, described
as a beautiful garden in the Buddha's time still retain its legendary charm
and beauty. To the mere 12 miles north of Lumbini lies the dense and picturesque
sal-grove.
For centuries, Buddhists- all over the world, knew that Lumbini where the Lord
was born is somewhere around. The descriptions of famous Chinese pilgrims (of
ancient times) Huian Tsang and Faeihan indicated to this area-saying 'Lumbini-where
the lord was born is a piece of heaven on earth and one could see the snowy
mountains amidst a splendid garden-embedded with stupas and monasteries!
However, the exact location remained uncertain and obscure till December the
1st 1886 when a wandering German archaeologist Dr. Alois A. Fuhrer came across
a stone pillar and ascertained beyond doubt it is indeed the birthplace of Lord
Buddha.
Lumbini Garden
The Ashokan Pillar
Discovered by the now famous German archaeolgist Dr. Fuhrer, the pillar is the
first epigraphic evidence relating to the life history of Lord Buddha and is
also the most visible landmark of the garden. The historic importance of the
pillar is evidenced by the inscription engraved in the pillar (in Brahmi script).
It is said that the great Indian Emperor Ashok visited the site in the twentieth
year of is ascendancy to the throne and as a homage to the birthplace,erected
the pillar. The inscriptions in the pillar roughly translates as: Kin Piyadesi
beloved of th Gods, having been anointed 20 yeas, came himself and worshipped
saying Here Buddha Shakyamuni was born: And he caused to make a stone (capital)
representing a horse; and he caused (this) stone pillar to be erected. Because
the worshipful one was born in the village of Lumbini has been made free of
taxes and recipient of wealth"
Puskarni-the sacred pool
South of the Ashokan Pillar, there is the famous sacred pool- 'Puskarni' believed
to be the same sacred pool in which Maya Devi took a holy dip just before giving
birth to the Lord and also where infant Buddha was given his first purification
bath. Architecturally the pool has the projecting terraces in descending order
and is reverted with a fine brick masonry.
Sanctum-Sanctorum of the Birthplace
The single most important place of the Lumbini (and to the entire Buddhist world
for that matter) is the stoneslab-located deep in the Sanctum sanctorum.
Revealed after a hard and meticulous excavations under the three layers of ruins
over the site of a famous Maya Devi temple, the stone slab foundation pinpoints
the location of the original place-marking the exact spot of the birthplace
of Lord Buddha.
Image of Maya Devi
In adition to Ashokan Pillar, the other Shrine of importance is the bas-relief
image of Maya Devi, Enshrined in a small pagoda-like structure, the image shows
MayaDevi , mother of the Lord. Supporting herself by holding on with her right
hand to a branch of Sal tree, with newly born infant Buddha standing upright
on a lotus pedestal on an oval halo. Two other celestial figures are depicted
in an act of pouring water and lotuses bestowed from heaven.
Earlier the image was placed in the famous white temple of MayaDevi beside
the pillar-now totally dismantled to make way for the excavations, which revealed
the Sanctum Sanctorum the exact spot where the Lord was born.
The Buddhist Temple
The monastery-of the Buddhist temple is built inside the surrounding complex
of Lumbini in the manner of modern Buddhist shrines in Nepal. The prayer hall
contains a large image of Buddha. medieval style murals decorate the walls.
Places around Lumbini
Kapilvastu
Located some 27 km. west of Lumbini lies the ruins of historic town of 'Kapilvastu'.
Believed to be the capital of Shakya republic where the Lord lived and enjoyed
his life until his thirteeth year, Kapilvastu has been identified with. Tilaurakot
by the archaelolotists. Also, the place is believed to have been associated
with different important episodes: there are ruins and mounds of old stupas
and monasteries made of kiln-burnt bricks and clay-mortar. The remains are
surrounded by a moat and the wall of the city are made of bricks. In fact,
the city of Kapilvastu are in such a grand scale that it could be easily be
visualised as a seat of high culture.
Aroarakot
About 10 km northwest of Taulihawa there is a rectangular fortified area which
is popularly known as Arourakot. The fortified area is identified by the famous
Indian archaeologist P.C. Mukharji as the natal town of Kanakmuni Buddha.
Remains of ancient moat and brick fortification around the Kot can still be
clearly located. A brick lined well is seen to the south and elevated mound
towards the northwest corner.
Gotihawa
About 5 km. southwest of Taulihawa, there is a village called Gotihawa. In
the village there is an Ashokan Pillar standing in a slab. The upper portion
of the pillar is broken and lost and only the lower portion of the pillar
3.5m. high is still intact. Adjoining the pillar towards its northeast there
is a huge stupa with successive ring of wedge shaped Mauryan bricks.
Kudan
About 2 km. southwest of Taulihawa, on the left side of the Shoratgarh Taulihawa
road stands the village Kudan having a huge structural ruin with a cluster
of four mounds and a tank. The mounds were excavated in 1962.
Niglihawa
About 8 km, northwest of Taulihawa, there is another site of archaelogical
importance. The site has quadrangular tank surrounded by bushes, locally known
as Niglisagar. On the western Bank of the tank there are two broken pieces
of the Ashokan pillar, the longer one laying flat and the shorter ones stack
into the ground. The pillar bears 2 peacocks on the top part and a Devanagari
script inscription reading Om mani Padme Hun Ripu mallasya Chiran Jayut 1234.'
The shorter portion of the pillar which is partly buried in the ground measures
1.52m in length bears four lines of Ashokan inscription in the Brahmi script
which roughly translates as: "King Piyadasi Beloved of the gods, after
14 years of his coronation enlarged for the second time the stupa of Buddha
kanaka Muni, and after 20 years of his coronat ion he came himself and worshipped
(and ) he caused (this) stone pillar to be erected:"
Sagarhawa
About 12 km. north of Taulihawa, there is a forest area called Sagarhawa.
In the midst of the forest there is a huge rectangular tank which is popularly
known as Lumbusagar, or a long tank. The ancient tanks ruins which were excavated
and indentified by Dr. Aslois A Fuhrer as the 'Palace of massacre of the Shakyas'
in 1895 can still be located on the west south banks of the Sagar.
Lumbini Development Project
To develop "Lumbini" as a center of International Buddhist Culture
and Learning a master plan development is underway. As suggested by Mr. U-Thant.
The UN secretary a master plan was prepared by Mr. Kenzo T ange, the reputed
Japanese architect.
The salient features of the plan are:
a) Lumbini fillage
b) Monastic enclave and
c) The Sacred Garden
Lumbini Travel Guide, Reservation Form
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