Lumbini is one of the four most important Buddhist pilgrimage sites in India, the other three being Kushinagar, Bodhgaya, and Sarnath. It is the birth place of Lord Buddha, also known as the ‘Tathagata’. Lumbini is located in the Rupandehi district of Nepal. Considered a world heritage site by UNESCO in 1997, this place holds great significance culturally.
Major attractions of Lumbini include:
- Maya Devi temple, Maya Devi Temple is named after the revered mother of Lord Buddha
- Ashokan pillar is another attraction of Lumbini where Emperor Ashoka built an inscribed pillar marking the birth of Buddha
- Myanmar Golden Temple is One of the oldest structures on the premises with three prayer halls
- World Peace Pagoda was built by the Japanese
- China temple that looks like Tibetan styled Gompa
- The Lumbini Museum on the northern end of the premise is dedicated to the life of Gautam Buddha and houses the photos and artefacts from Buddhist sites all over the world.