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Under a sunny sky, a tourist bus comes to a halt on a street that seems to be soaked in the afternoon siesta. As passengers get down, they notice that the iconic Maya Devi Temple, which is believed to be the birthplace of Siddhartha Gautam, better known as Lord Buddha, is not too far. Several small eateries can be seen around — some are bustling, serving lunch to locals and travellers; others are waiting for the evening to host visitors again.
This is Lumbini. A quiet yet significant town in Nepal. Despite the summer peaking, a week before Buddha Purnima, crowds have started pouring in as expected. In groups of hundreds, devotees from places such as Maharashtra have settled — albeit temporarily — outside the Maya Devi Temple, which they consider as a haven of peace.
The temple boasts of relics dating back to 3rd century BC. In the ‘Sacred Garden’, adjoining the temple, stands tall the Ashokan pillar — a tribute to the “religion of peace” by the Mauryan emperor. Chants and sermons by monks, some visitors meditating close to the pond while others explore the vast temple complex — the scenes at the heart of UN World Heritage site of Lumbini are captivating and calming in equal measures.
Nepal is a Hindu-majority nation. In Lumbini, however, over a dozen Buddhist monasteries established by other countries are symbolic of the fact that the town puts Nepal on the world map.
Also, the World Peace Pagoda is said to be one of the greatest stupas (Buddhist shrines for meditation) in the world. Built at a cost of USD 1 million by Japanese Buddhists, this is among the several pagodas that were constructed to call for peace after the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings.
Even as Lumbini preserves history and faith, it is humble in its welcome of devotees, locals and tourists.
How To Reach:
By Air: Nearest airport is Bhairahawa airport (about 22 km away)
By Road: Buses ply between Kathmandu and Lumbini
