After several days vegging out in Pokhara
after our physical exertions on the Annapurna Circuit (it is amazing how
quickly one can turn into a sloth again), it was time to move on back to
India. We planned to break up the trip
across the border in Lumbini, stay there the night then continue to Ghorekpur
in India where we would catch the train to Varanasi. To us Lumbini was just a stopping off place,
until we realised it is the birthplace of Buddha. So we decided to stay a day and explore the
World Heritage Site.
Countries from around the world have
contributed funds towards the Lumbini Development site, a 3km by 1km park. The park is still being developed and has
great potential but there are already signs that Nepal is not able to keep up
the necessary maintenance.
The main temple is the Maya Devi temple
which houses the marker stone of the ‘actual birthplace of the Lord Buddha’,
identified in 1993 – about two and a half centuries after his birth. It also has ruins of previous Maya Devi
temples from the 3rd century, BC, the pond where Buddha’s mother
bathed the baby and a stone pillar erected by the famous King Ashoka.
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| Maya Devi Temple |
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| Bathing pool |
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| Ashoka pillar |
A canal goes up the length of the park with
temples build by different countries in the parkland on either side. At the northern end is a very beautiful Peace
Stupa built by the Japanese.
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| Peace Stupa |
We were quite glad we didn't bypass this tourist and pilgrimage spot.
The blog post is truly interesting. I loved the pictures you have shared in this post. Lumbini is the birthplace of the Lord. I am sure many are already impressed with this lovely blog post. Hope to read more by you.
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