Lumbini
The birthplace of Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997, centered on the Maya Devi Temple.
According to Buddhist tradition, Queen Maya Devi gave birth to Siddhartha Gautama in Lumbini around 563 BCE. The Maya Devi Temple marks the traditional birthplace, and a nearby Ashoka Pillar, erected by Emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century BCE and rediscovered in 1896, carries an inscription confirming the site. Lumbini today is a quiet pilgrimage complex with monasteries built by Buddhist communities from around the world.
What to see in the complex
Maya Devi Temple
The marker stone and ancient ruins at the traditional birthplace site, inside the sacred garden.
Ashoka Pillar
A 3rd-century BCE stone column with a Brahmi inscription confirming Lumbini as the Buddha's birthplace.
Monastic Zone
Monasteries built by Buddhist communities from different countries, each in their own architectural style.