Buddha was born in Lumbini on a full Moon day in 623 B.C. Lumbini lies in southern Nepal. The importance of lumbini had risen by the Mauryan emperor Ashoka, who visited Lumbini in order to pay homage to the great master and erected a pillar in 249 B.C to indicate the birthplace of Buddha. Near the Ashoka pillar is the newly renovated Maya Devi temple, which house the nativity sculpture depicting the birth scene of the Buddha. The temple also comprised the marker stone discovered in 1996 A.D, which depicts the exact spot where the Buddha was born. He stands now in bulletproof glass in the Maya Devi temple.
The Maya Devi temple was renovated in 2003 on the 2547th auspicious birth anniversary of Buddha and comprises ruins of the early period dating back from 3rd century B.C to the 7th century A.D. At the puskarni poud where queen Maya Devi had given the first (pacification) bath to Lord Buddha.
In 1896, excavations by General Khadga Shumsher Rana of Nepal and renowned archeologist dr Fuhree shed light on various aspect of the life of Buddha. In 1898, the British govt deputed P.C mukherjee conformed the exact location of Aurorakot as the birthplace of Kanakmuni Buddha (Gotihawa as the native place if Kakruchhanda Buddha who exists before the Shakyaminu Buddha & Lumbini as birthplace of Shakyaminu Buddha). He also claimed Devdaha to be maternal home of Buddha and Tilaurakot to be the exact site of kapilbastu-the old capital of the shakaya kingdom.
Shortily after Buddha attained enlightenment at the age of 36, he celebrated his first sermon, in which he declared the essential framework upon all his later teaching based. This framework consists of the four Noble Truths and the Eight-fold path, which identifies the source of suffering and the path towards the cessation of sufferings and the attainment of salvation. In order to develop Lumbini as a pilgrimage center a fountain of world peace was built and Prof. Kenzo Tange of Japan has assigned to create the Lumbini Master plan by UN, which did the Govt. of Nepal and UN jointly approve in 1978? The master plan includes canals, gardens, libraries, museums, monastic zones and areas for amenities.
Lumbini development Trust is responsible for the overall development of Lumbini. Listed as a world Heritage site by UNESCO in December 1997, Lumbini has developed with international support. There are different (Vihars) monasteries constructed by different countries like Korea, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Japan, Germany, Austria, India, Srilanka, China and Nepal.
Overview
Tour itinerary: 5 nights/ 6 days.
Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport, Nepal. Transfer to your hotel.
I will be on standby air-condition vehicle and displaying your named template at the airport on that day to pick you up and transfer to your hotel. Within one hour latter, we will go to orientation walk to get familiar with your surrounding or sightseeing in Kathmandu valley if possible otherwise, will be rest in your hotel.
Day 02: Full day cultural and historical sightseeing in Kathmandu valley by air-condition vehicle.
Boudhanath stupa ( one of the biggest Buddhist temple of Nepal ), One of the holy place of Pashupatinath temple, Swayambhunath stupa ( monkey temple ), and Hanuman dhokha durbar square ( Kathmandu durbar square ). Then, transfer to your hotel.
Day 03: Fly (35 min.)/ Drive (11 to 12 hrs.) from Kathmandu to Lumbini.
By flying, we can see beautiful mountains views if the weather is clear. Otherwise, we just pass 35 minutes in the small aircraft. Then after refreshing half an hours, we will start our sightseeing in Lumbini such as sacred garden ( Puskarini pond ), Maya Devi Temple, The Eternal Peace flame etc.
Lumbini is approximately 330 km. away from Kathmandu. But on the zigzag way of mountain areas, we will pass through beautiful landscape, paddy farm, river, tiny villages, mountain views small city, etc. On the way to Lumbini, we will have to take lunch. After 6 hours drive, will reach to Narayanghat, one of the transit city point of all over Nepal, we will spend half an hour for tea or coffee then we will continue our destination. Again crossing through the Narayani bridge, we will pass through Butawal and Bhairawa cities then we will reach to Lumbini. Overnight at hotel.
Day 04: Sightseeing in the holy site of Buddha and Monastic Zone.
This zone is situated in the center with the forest area, north of the sacred garden complex, divided by canal. There are 13 monasteries in east and 29 in west Monastic enclaves, having 42 plots each allotted for new monasteries of Theravada and Mahayana sects of Buddhism respectively.We can visit some of the monasteries and holy site of Buddha. Overnight at hotel.
Day 05: Fly/ drive back to Kathmandu. Overnight at hotel.
Day 06 : Departure
After breakfast transfer to the airport for final to onward destination
Note: After these programs, If you would interest to do adventure, trekking, hiking and Jungle Safari please, will have a look at Nepal block in the beginning of my website.
Cost includes:
. Pick-up and drop from International Tribhuvan Airport. Transfer to your hotel.
. Kathmandu accommodation (3 nights tourist standard deluxe hotel with breakfast).
. Lumbini accommodation ( 2 nights tourist standard deluxe hotel with breakfast).
. All sightseeing as per itinerary by deluxe vehicle.
. Domestic fly ( Kathmandu- Lumbini- Kathmandu )/ Drive by private vehicle.
. Entrance fees of all the monumental areas in Kathmandu and Lumbini.
. Guide and vehicle charges included.
Cost doesn’t includes:
. Lunch and dinner during in Kathmandu & Lumbini.
. Nepal entry visa.
. Travel insurance.
. An international air fee.
. All bar bills.
. Lundry bills.
. Personal expenses.
. Any extra cost due to weather or political problems and
. Expenses of personal nature i:e soft/hard drinks, tips etc.