Lumbini — Birthplace of the Buddha
लुम्बिनी
The birthplace of Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha — one of the holiest pilgrimage sites in the Buddhist world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site visited by pilgrims from across Asia.
Deity
Birthplace of Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha)
Location
Rupandehi
Lumbini
Tradition
Buddhist
Main festival
Buddha Jayanti
Lumbini is where Queen Mayadevi gave birth to the Buddha in 623 BCE. The Mayadevi Temple shelters the marker stone and the ancient Ashokan pillar (249 BCE) that records Emperor Ashoka's pilgrimage, beside the sacred pond and bodhi tree.
The surrounding monastic zone hosts monasteries built by Buddhist nations worldwide. Lumbini is inscribed as its own UNESCO World Heritage Site and is the spiritual anchor of Lumbini Province.
Highlights
Mayadevi Temple and the exact Nativity marker
Ashokan pillar of 249 BCE
International monastic zone built by many nations
Buddha Jayanti pilgrimage (May)
How to reach
Near Bhairahawa (Siddharthanagar), Rupandehi; road or flight to Gautam Buddha International/ Bhairahawa.
Best time to visit
October–March (cooler Terai weather); Buddha Jayanti in May.
Lumbini — Birthplace of the Buddha, answered
Which deity is worshipped at Lumbini — Birthplace of the Buddha?+
Lumbini — Birthplace of the Buddha is dedicated to Birthplace of Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha) (a Buddhist site) in Lumbini, Rupandehi, Rupandehi, Lumbini Province.
How do I reach Lumbini — Birthplace of the Buddha?+
Near Bhairahawa (Siddharthanagar), Rupandehi; road or flight to Gautam Buddha International/ Bhairahawa.
What is the best time to visit Lumbini — Birthplace of the Buddha?+
October–March (cooler Terai weather); Buddha Jayanti in May.
What is the main festival at Lumbini — Birthplace of the Buddha?+
The main festival at Lumbini — Birthplace of the Buddha is Buddha Jayanti.
Other temples & pilgrimage sites
Sources & data note
Temple histories, deities and festival associations are drawn from the Nepal Tourism Board, temple trusts and the Department of Archaeology. Altitudes and coordinates are approximate. Festival dates follow the lunar calendar and shift each year. Several sites (Pashupatinath, Boudhanath, Swayambhunath, Lumbini) are inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List — see the heritage section for the formal listing.