Birth Place of Buddha

Lumbini is the hallowed birth of place of Siddhartha Gautam, the Shakya prince, the eventual Shakyamuni, and the ultimate Buddha- the enlightened one. This nativity site identified by Indian Emperior Ashoka’s commemorative pillar erected over 2,200 years ago and rediscovered in 1896. The main attraction at Lumbini is the sacred Garden that is spread over 8 sq km and possesses all the treasure of the historic area. The Mayadevi temple currently under renovation, is the main attraction for pilgrims and archaeologist alike. This is where we find a bas relief of Mayadevi, the Buddha’s mother, giving birth to him as two Hindu gods, Brahma and Indra shower him with lotus petals and holy water. There is also a sacred stone marked with a “foot imprint” of Emperor Ashoka which had been placed here to mark the exact birthplace. Nearby, to the west of the Mayadevi temple, stands the Ashoka pillar-the oldest monument so far found in Nepal. Lumbini as the place where the Buddha was born in 623 BC. To the south of the pillar we find the sacred pond-Puskarni-where queen Mayadevi had taken bath just before giving birth to the Buddha. The treasury of cultural and archaeological riches scattered around Lumbini evokes the time and aura of the Buddha. Moreover the host of stupas, monasteries, meditation centers and bahals begin constructed in the international Monastery Zone by various countries such as Japan, China, India, Thailand, Myanmar, Vietnam, Srilanka, France and Germany.

Tilaurakot: An important archeological site lying 27 km to the west of Lumbini,Tilaurakot evokes the ancient palace of King Suddhodhan ,Siddhartha Gautam’s father,where the Buddha spent his formative years as a Shakya prince. Scattered foundation of the ancient palace, stupas and monasteries made of Kline-baked bricks and clay mortar are abundant here, the ancestral home of Buddha, and archaeologists to date have discovered 13 successive layers of human habitation dating back to the eighth century BC. The most sacred spot here for Buddhists is the palace’s eastern gate through which the Buddha had departed on his search for enlightenment. A must for archeology and history buffs

Niglihawa: Located to the north east to Tilaurakot, Niglihawa contains some of the most important archaeological treasures dating back to the third century BC. This history place encompasses a quadrangular tank surrounded by the bushes and on its western bank are two broken pieces of another Ashoka Pillar. There is pali language inscription on the pillar in Brahmi script which records Ashoka’s visit to the holy site in the 14th year of his rule in India.

Sargarhawa: To the north-west of Niglihawa is a forest called Sagarhawa. It is the site where ruins of ancient water tanks were excavated in 1895, and this site has been identified by archaeologists as the “Palace of massacre of the Shakya’s”. Aroarakot: Lying to the north-east of Niglihawa, Aroarakot used to be walled fortress in ancient times. Rectangular in shape, this citadel was the Buddha’s natal town. Remains of ancient moat and brick fortifications, which can still be clearly located point to a glorious past. A very interesting trip, takes you to the time of Buddha.

Gotihawa: To the south-west of Tilaurakot is Gotihawa, where we find another Ashoka Pillar. The upper part of the pillar is missing. Next to it a huge stupa with successive rings of wedge-shaped Mauryan bricks. This sacred site is believed to be associated with Kanakmuni Buddha and Krakuchhanda Buddha who came before Gautam Buddha.