Birthplace of the Buddha
Lumbini, the place where the Buddha was born in 623 B.C., is situated in the Terai plains of southern Nepal. The nativity site is marked by a stone pillar erected by Indian Emperor Ashoka in 249 B.C.

Sacred Garden
Listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, Lumbini is being developed with international support as the supreme Buddhist pilgrimage and a symbol of world peace. The Sacred Garden where the Buddha was born converges on the Ashoka pillar which carries an inscription identifying the spot as the birthplace. To one side of the pillar is the newly renovated Mayadevi Temple which houses a bas relief depicting the nativity. The Puskarni pond, where Queen Mayadevi - the Buddha's mother - had taken a bath before giving birth to him, lies nearby.

Temples & Monasteries
The Myanmar Temple (Lokamani Cula Pagoda) is a gleaming gold and white structure gracefully soaring into the sky in the style of the Shwe-dagon Pagoda in Yangon. There is a monastery complex behind the temple. Nearby, the International Gautami Nuns Temple is a fine replica of the Swayambhu stupa in Kathmandu. There is a pond here known as Paleswan Pukhu.

The China Temple is a complex of pagodas, prayer rooms and meditation cells. Built by the Buddhist Association of China, the centerpiece at the Zhong Hua Buddhist Monastery is a huge statue of the Buddha housed in its main pagoda. Across the road is the Dae Sung Suk Ga Sa Korean Temple (Tel: 071-580123) and its guest house has been completed. The Nepal Buddha Temple and the Dharma Swami Maharaja Buddha Vihara are located inside the Sacred Garden.

The Japan Peace Stupa is situated at the northern end of Lumbini. Built by the Nippon Jon Myohoji of Japan, the 41-m tall edifice is visible from a distance. Four different Buddha statues are set into the stupa's dome to face the four cardinal directions. Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Thailand and Mongolia are also building temples in Lumbini.

museums
The Lumbini Museum contains Mauryan and Kushana coins, religious manuscripts, terra-cotta fragments, and stone and metal sculptures. It also possesses an extensive collection of stamps from various countries depicting Lumbini and the Buddha.

Lumbini International Research Institute (LIRI), located opposite the Lumbini Museum, provides research facilities for the study of Buddhism and religion in general. Run jointly by the Lumbini Development Trust and the Reiyukai of Japan, LIRI contains some 12,000 books on religion, philosophy, art and architecture.

Apilvastu Museum is situated 27 km west of Lumbini in Tilaurakot. The museum holds coins, pottery and toys dating between the seventh century B.C. and fourth century A.D. The museum also has a good collection of jewelry and other ornaments from that period. Open daily, except Tuesdays and holidays, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. Entrance fee is Rs. 10 (SAARC Rs. 5). (Tel: 076-560128).

From Lumbini
Tilaurakot, 27 km to the west of Lumbini, contains the ruins of ancient Kapilvastu, capital of the Sakya kingdom where the Buddha spent his youth as Prince Siddhartha. At Niglihawa (8 km from Tilaurakot) and Gotihawa (5 km), there are broken Ashoka pillars and other relics. Devdaha, capital of the Koliya kingdom and maternal home of Mayadevi, lies 35 km to the northeast of Lumbini - just off the Butwal-Narayanghat section of the East-West Highway.

General Information
Lumbini is situated in the tropical Terai plains to the southwest of Kathmandu.

Access : From Kathmandu, fly to Gautam Buddha Airport in Bhairahawa (Siddhartha Nagar Municipality, 45 minutes) and then drive (22 km) to Lumbini. Overland from Kathmandu to Bhairahawa is 282 km (10 hours).

Getting around : The places to see in Lumbini are scattered over a large area (roughly 8 sq km). There are battery-operated three-wheelers to get around.

Climate : Absolute extreme temperature 35 degrees Celsius maximum, 7 degrees minimum. The rainy season lasts June-September. October to may is the best time to visit.

Accomodation
Lumbini offers good hotels that are equipped with modern amenities. Visitors can also stay in the nearby town of Bhairahawa.

TILAURAKOT
Tilaurakot, 25km west of Lumbini, is said to be the childhood home of the Buddha. Tilaurakot is believed to the capitla of the Kapilavastu kingdom, where the Prince Siddhartha Gautam lived for the first 29 years of his life. Tilaurakot is 3km north of the busy village of Tiulihawa. Few less people visit here than Lumbini. It is a peaceful place with shaded grounds.

There are the remains of some stupas, some fort gates, old city walls and a moat. There are two Ashokan Pillars here, which were put up to memorialize the birth of the Buddha in two previous ages. The eastern gate is considered important, because the Buddha is said to have pasted through this gate when he departed to find enlightenment. Often the guard will give a tour of the sites (donation expected).

There is a small museum containing some pottery found in the area and coins (around 3,000). Open daily except Tuesday, 10 am to 5 pm, Friday, 10 am to 3 pm. Admission Rs 5.

In the Area
These places along with Tilaurakot can all be visited in the same day if you have your own vehicle. You have to rent a vehicle in Bhairawa, but you have to make sure your driver know how to get to all these places. Taulihawa is on the road to Tilaurakot from Bhairawa.

At Gotihawa, 6km south of Taulihawa, there is an Ashokan pillar and a stupa, which commemorates a previous Buddha.

Niglihawa, 10km northeast of Taulihawa, is where there is a ruined Ashokan pillar that also commemorates a previous Buddha.
Kudan, 2km southwest of Taulihawa, is said to be where the Buddha came after enlightenment, to preach to his father and his young son.
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Travel
A good way to get here is by jeep while at the same time going to Lumbini (25km).

Uncomfortable minibuses go between Bhairawa and Taulihawa (22km past Lumbini). There are two morning buses. This bus stops in Lumbini at the Parsa Chowk intersection by the Hotel Rainbow. From Taulihawa you take the main paved northern road 3km to an intersection which has the museum on the right and a right going right 500m to the main site.
A bicycle is good way to get to Tilaurakot from Bhairawa. It takes less than 2 hours to ride from.

TANSEN (Palpa)
In the past Tansen was on the trade route between the plains and the hills. Tansen is between Pokhara (5 hr, 110km) and Sunauli/Bhairawa (2 hr, 55 km), just off the Siddhartha Highway, and is a pleasant place to stop on the way between the two places. It is the administrative center for the area. It is known for metalware and dhaka, the material made into the Nepali topis hats. Not many visitors come here. It is also known as Palpa and Tansing, the original Magar name.

There are great views of the Madi Valley from town. There are some interesting walks in the area. It is a good two hours walk to the Kali Gandaki River and the large, deserted Ranighat Palace. From the close by hill call Srinagar Danda, there are excellent views of the Himalaya Mountains.

Most of the people in Tansen are Newars who mainly migrated in the 19th century when trade opportunities opened up here. Most of the people in the surrounding area are Magars and there are also Chhetris and Bahuns.

History
Before Nepal was united, Tansen was the capital of the Palpa kingdom ruled by the Sen Dynasty. The history of Tansen dates back to the 16th century. Prithvi Narayan Shah, who united Nepal, mother was from the Sen Family. For years the Gorkha and Palpa kingdoms were in alliance and combined they took control of western Nepal. In 1806, Prithivipal Sen, the last king of Palpa, was asked to come to Kathmandu and he was beheaded. Palpa became parted of the Kathmandu kingdom and Tansen became the administrative city for the area. Members of the Shah and Rana family have ruled the region, often after being exiled from Kathmandu trying to overthrow the king of the time.

Orientation and Information
The town is built on a steep. Many of the main streets are too steep for vehicle traffic. In the old part of the city there are traditional Newari buildings along cobbled streets.

Either Nepal Bank or Rastriya Banijya Bank may be able to change US dollars travelers' cheques, but may not be able to change anything else.
There is a place a little uphill of Shitalpati that does email.

Tansen Durbar
This former palace of the provincial governor was built in the Rana style and is now government office. It has an impressive but run-down eastern gate called Baggi Dhoka, or Mul Dhoka. Outside the gate is a public square called Sitalpati.

Amar Narayan Temple
This temple is a traditional three-tiered pagoda-style temple built in 1806. It has well carved doors and has some intricate woodwork. It has erotic figures on the roof struts. It is considered to be one of the most beautiful temples outside of Kathmandu Valley. The temple was built by Amar Singh Thapa, who annexed Tansen to become part of Nepal.
There are some tanks near the temple, and many bat in the years nearby.

Bhagwati Temple
This temple, near the Tansen Durbar was originally built in 1815 to commemorate the victory over the British at Butwal. It was renovated in 1035 and 1974 after earthquakes. In the area there are small temples dedicated by Ganesh, Saraswati and Siva.