Lumbini Bazaar
First-timersGuesthouses by the main gate.
Lumbini town guide
Things To Do In Lumbini
The birthplace of the Buddha, on the plains near the Indian border: a sacred garden, an Ashokan pillar, and a zone of monasteries built by Buddhist countries around the world.
~563 BCE
The Buddha born
249 BCE
The Ashoka Pillar
1997
Joins UNESCO
The birthplace of the Buddha
Siddhartha Gautama, who became the Buddha, was born in Lumbini around 563 BCE. The Emperor Ashoka marked the spot with a pillar in 249 BCE, and today the sacred garden is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Buddhism's holiest places.
Around it, a monastic zone holds temples and monasteries built by Buddhist countries from Myanmar to Germany, each in its own style.
Lumbini is quiet, flat and hot. One or two days is right.
Where to stay
Most guesthouses are in Lumbini Bazaar, the small town by the main gate of the sacred area. Some monasteries in the Monastic Zone offer simple rooms to visitors.
Map data from OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
Things to do in Lumbini
Lumbini is the birthplace of the Buddha, born here around the sixth century BCE, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997. At its heart, the Maya Devi Temple shelters the marker stone said to show the exact spot of his birth, with excavated ruins inside. Beside it stands the Ashoka Pillar, erected by the Mauryan emperor Ashoka in 249 BCE, whose inscription identifies the place as the Buddha's birthplace; and the sacred pond, where his mother is said to have bathed.
The Monastic Zone, a long landscaped park, holds monasteries built by Buddhist countries and communities: Myanmar's golden pagoda, Thailand's white marble temple, the Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese and German temples. Cycle or take an e-rickshaw between them; the zone is several kilometres long.
The Eternal Peace Flame burns at the north end of the central canal, and the World Peace Pagoda, built by Japanese monks, stands at the edge of the area.
Kapilvastu, about an hour away, has the ruins of Tilaurakot, believed to be the palace where the Buddha grew up.
Free things
Free things to do in Lumbini
Most of the monasteries in the Monastic Zone are free to visit, and the park itself is free to walk or cycle.
The Eternal Peace Flame and the World Peace Pagoda are free. The Maya Devi Temple charges foreigners an entry fee.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking in Lumbini
Lumbini Bazaar has simple restaurants serving dal bhat, momos and Indian dishes. Some monasteries serve simple vegetarian meals to visitors.
A meal is €1.50 to €4.
Nightlife
Going out in Lumbini
Lumbini is a pilgrimage site and quiet at night, with no bars to speak of. Evenings are for the monasteries' chanting and early nights.
Getting around
Getting around Lumbini
Gautam Buddha International Airport, near Bhairahawa, is about thirty minutes away. Buses reach Kathmandu in eight to ten hours and Pokhara in about eight. The Indian border at Sunauli is about thirty minutes away.
Rent a bicycle or take an e-rickshaw to get around the sacred area, which is several kilometres long.
Costs
What Lumbini costs
Lumbini is cheap. A careful day is €15 to €20.
The Maya Devi Temple charges foreigners a few euros; bicycle hire is about €2 a day. Monastery donations are welcome.
The currency is the Nepalese rupee (NPR); prices here are euro equivalents, at roughly 155 rupees to the euro. Cash is essential outside the cities and on treks; ATMs have low withdrawal limits and fees.
Safety
Staying safe in Lumbini
Lumbini is very safe. The heat from April to June is intense, often above 40°C; visit early or late in the day. Winter mornings, from December to January, can be foggy and cold.
Inside temples and monasteries, remove shoes, dress modestly and keep quiet.
Emergency: 100 police, 102 ambulance. Tourist Police: 1144.
Day trips from Lumbini
The Buddha's childhood palace, the Indian border and rhinos.
Chitwan
Rhinos and elephants in the national park.
What's on
What is on while you are there
Buddha Jayanti, the Buddha's birthday, is the biggest day.
April or May
Buddha Jayanti
Lumbini
The Buddha's birthday.
October to March
Cool season
Lumbini
The best weather.
When to go
October to March. April to June is very hot.
Jan
Cool
Feb
Good
Mar
Warming
Apr
Hot
May
Buddha Jayanti
Jun
Very hot
Jul
Monsoon
Aug
Monsoon
Sep
Humid
Oct
Good
Nov
Excellent
Dec
Cool
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs.
What your trip will cost
Pick how you travel. Per person per night, in euros.
Prices are in rupees locally; these are euro equivalents.
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- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
Lumbini travel questions
The ones we get asked most.
Is Lumbini really the Buddha's birthplace?
It is accepted by Buddhists and UNESCO, and the Ashoka Pillar of 249 BCE carries an inscription naming it as his birthplace.
How do I get around?
By bicycle or e-rickshaw: the sacred area is several kilometres long.
Can I stay in a monastery?
Some monasteries offer simple rooms to visitors; ask locally.
How do I get there?
By flight to Bhairahawa, thirty minutes away, or by bus from Kathmandu or Pokhara.
How many days do you need?
One full day, or two to include Kapilvastu.
When is the best time to visit?
October to March. April to June is very hot.
What is Buddha Jayanti?
The Buddha's birthday, in April or May, when pilgrims gather in Lumbini.
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