Maya Devi Temple (Birthplace of Buddha) Lumbini

Namaste!! What a relief and what a welcome. The first few seconds in Nepal were already such a new experience. All the Nepali people we run into were genuine, friendly and open. It started directly at the immigration office. The visas were arranged within 10 minutes, combined with a nice chat with the people working there. And of course, it is no …

After a very bumpy ride from Chitwan on the local bus (our worst yet) we arrived in the very dusty, small rural Terai town of Lumbini, only 1.5 hours from the border of Nepal/India. Bus stop was right near our hotel we had booked Buddha Bhoomi Guesthouse, we thought sweet nice and close, a short walk to carry our bags. We did the usual checkin and …

Our bus journey to Lumbini was long and reasonably uncomfortable, despite having opted to pay extra for tickets on a 'deluxe' bus. This afforded us the luxury of a boot for our bags rather than a roof rack, and a television on which some rather energetic, loud Bollywood movies were played throughout the journey. Our discomfort was negated slightly …

We reached Lumbini after a long and bumpy bus ride, along with a nice lunch in a restaurant that overlooked the jungle, right before we left another set of mountains. Again the roads were filled with potholes, cows, and local motorbikes, so the drive took longer than it should have. However, when we got to Lumbini, and got out of the AC van, I was …

After visiting several sites in New Delhi, we set out for Nepal by train. After a couple of harrowing transfers and getting some misguided help that sent us past the Indian Border and Nepal border without stamps or visas in our passports, we made it to Lumbini, the birthplace of the Buddha. We stayed at a family run hotel for 500rs (about $7). By …

We head for two more Buddhist pilgrimage sights: Kushinagar, where the Buddha supposedly passed away and Lumbini, where the Buddha was born (the Buddhist segment of our trip was dependent on the flight and train schedules, otherwise we would have started with Lumbini, Nepal and not Sarnath). To get to these two areas we had to go to and stay in …

Namaste,

We have arrived to Buddha's birthplace, Lumbini. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site, certainly a place to reflect and meditate. On arrival Lumbini looked just like another dusty village in a third world country: beggars, vendors, unfinished buildings. Sasha, Dasha and an Australian girl they met on a taxi checked into a hotel …

... Buddhism and all who follow its teachings.  The place of Buddha's birthplace resides in a Sacred Garden marked by the Maya Devi Temple and a birth stone marks the exact spot of his birth.  Outside of the temple lies the sacred pond where Queen ...

... and we enjoyed cycling around and dropping into certain place to see them. At one end of the complex is the pool and Maya Devi temple where Buddha was born and at the other is the World Peace Pagoda, built by the Japanese. Its a beautiful building of ...

... Buddha in different positions on each side. It was quite a sight! After, that I made my way to Lumbini's main attraction, The Maya Devi temple, which covers the spot Buddha was born. It is one of the most important Buddhist pilgrimage sights and amongst ...

... and rushed towards Buddha’s birthplace. The place where Sidhartha Gautama was born is currently enclosed by the Maya Devi temple that attracts pilgrims from around the Buddhist world. Around that site there were dozens of monasteries. One could ...

... draws many monks, pilgrims and visitors from a wide range of countries.  .   . The grounds of the Maya Devi temple contain archaeological ruins of temples and monasteries dating back to the reign of Ashoka, the great Buddhist Emperor. It also ...

... so much quieter and with so many less people. We dropped our bags and headed to the central spot which is the Maya Devi Temple surrounded by sacred gardens.As it was almost sunset and closing time we had a quick look around.  Inside the building ...

... go see the place where Buddha was born.  The site was called the Development Zone, and apart from the actual Maya Devi Temple, the grounds held tens of monasteries representing different countries.  Walked to the front gate and went to the Maya ...

... friendly Nepalese! To not completely miss out on Lumbini, I hired a motor bike taxi that evening to take me to see the Maya Devi temple at night (unfortunately there was a power cut so there was not much to see). A poor surrogate for the whole holy ...

... circular shape. The following day I rented a bike and visited the key places within Lumbini. Undoubtedly the most significant was Maya Devi Temple, named after Siddhartha's mother and built at his exact birthplace. Basically every Buddhist country ...

... therefore, a place of huge religious significance which attracts pilgrims from all around the world. The following morning we visited the spiritual heart of Lumbini, the Maya Devi Temple which marks the exact spot where Buddha was born under a Bodhi ...