View source for Lumbini

{{short description|Historical city in Lumbini Province, Nepal}}
{{About|the Buddhist pilgrimage site}}
{{EngvarB|date=December 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2013}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Lumbini Nepal
| native_name        = लुम्बिनी नेपाल
| native_name_lang   = ne
| image_skyline      = BRP Lumbini Mayadevi temple.jpg
| settlement_type    = [[City]]
| elevation_m        = 150
| pushpin_map        = Nepal Lumbini Province#Nepal
| pushpin_relief     = yes
| pushpin_map_alt    = 
| pushpin_map_caption = Location of Lumbini in Nepal
| pushpin_label_position = top
| coordinates        = {{coord|27|28|53|N|83|16|33|E|display=inline}}
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = [[Nepal]]
| subdivision_type1  = [[Provinces of Nepal|Province]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Lumbini Province]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[Districts of Nepal|District]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Rupandehi District|Rupandehi]]
| subdivision_type3  = [[List of cities in Nepal|Municipality]]
| subdivision_name3  = [[Lumbini Sanskritik]]
| government_type    = [[Development trust]]
| governing_body     = [[Lumbini Development Trust]]
| timezone1          = [[Nepal Standard Time|NST]]
| utc_offset1        = +05:45
| postal_code_type   = Postal code
| postal_code        = 32914
| area_code          = 
| website            = {{URL|www.lumbinidevtrust.gov.np}}
| footnotes          = 
| official_name      = 
| image_caption      = [[Maya Devi Temple, Lumbini]], marking the [[Buddha]]'s birthplace
}}
{{Infobox UNESCO World Heritage Site
| WHS         = Lumbini, the Birthplace of the Lord Buddha
| Image       = 
| image_size  = 
| Location    = [[Rupandehi District]], [[Nepal]]
| Criteria    = Cultural: iii, vi
| ID          = 666
| Year        = 1997
| Area        = 198.95 ha
| Buffer_zone = 22.78 ha 
| locmapin    = 
| coordinates = {{coord|27|28|53|N|83|16|33|E|display=title}}
| map_caption = Location in Nepal
}}
[[File:BRP Lumbini Ashoka pillar.jpg|thumb|Ashoka Pillar of Lumbini|351x351px]]
[[File:Lumbini pillar Medieval inscription.jpg|thumb|Lumbini pillar inscription by King [[Ripumalla]]: "[[Om mani padme hum|Om Mani Padme Hum]] Sri Ripu Malla Chiram Jayatu 1234 [[Saka Era]]" ("[[Om mani padme hum|Om Mani Padme Hum]] May Prince Ripu Malla be long victorious")<ref name="Huu Phuoc p.269">Le Huu Phuoc, Buddhist Architecture, p.269</ref>|202x202px]]{{BuddhasHolySites}}
{{Buddhist pilgrimage sites in India.svg}}

'''Lumbinī''' ({{IPA|ne|ˈlumbiniː|pron|Lumbini audio.ogg}}, 'the lovely') is a [[Buddhist pilgrimage|Buddhist pilgrimage site]] in the [[Rupandehi District]] of [[Lumbini Province]] in [[Nepal]]. According to the sacred texts of the [[Buddhism|Buddhist]] Commentaries, [[Maya Devi]] gave birth to [[The Buddha|Siddhartha Gautama]] in Lumbini in {{circa|624}} [[Common Era|BCE]].{{efn|Joshua Mark, "World History Encyclopaedia", 2020: ''The dates of the Buddha['s life] have been derived from various chronologies which all recognize that Siddhartha Gautama lived for 80 years but disagree on the dates those 80 years encompass. The chronologies are:''
1.) Sri Lanka's Long Chronology: {{circa|624}} - {{circa|544}} BCE (The Convention)
2.) Alternative Long Chronology: {{circa|567}} - {{circa|487}} BCE
3.) India's Short Chronology: {{circa|448}} - {{circa|368}} BCE
4.) Contemporary Chronology: {{circa|563}} - {{circa|483}} BCE}}<ref name="UNESC01997">{{Cite web|url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/news/180/|title=World Heritage Committee Inscribes 46 New Sites on World Heritage List|first=UNESCO World Heritage|last=Centre|website=UNESCO World Heritage Centre}}</ref><ref name="UNESCO2014">{{cite web|url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/666|title=Lumbini, the Birthplace of the Lord Buddha|publisher=UNESCO|access-date=1 March 2011}}</ref> Siddhartha Gautama achieved [[Enlightenment in Buddhism|Enlightenment]] and became Shakyamuni Buddha ({{langx|sa|शाक्यमुनि बुद्ध|4=the Enlightened Sage of the [[Shakya|Śākyas]]}}) who founded [[Buddhism]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/666/|title=Lumbini, the Birthplace of the Lord Buddha – UNESCO World Heritage Centre|publisher=Whc.unesco.org|access-date=19 August 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|title="Gautama Buddha (B.C. 623-543)" by T.W. Rhys-Davids, The World's Great Events, B.C. 4004-A.D. 70 (1908) by Esther Singleton, pp. 124–35}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.booksie.com/religion_and_spirituality/article/myoma_myint_kywe/the-buddha-%28bc-623bc-543%29|title=The Buddha (BC 623-BC 543) – Religion and spirituality Article – Buddha, Bc, 623|publisher=Booksie|date=8 July 2012|access-date=19 August 2013}}</ref> He later passed into [[parinirvana]] at the age of eighty, in {{circa|544 BCE}}.<ref name="Cousins1996">{{cite journal |last=Cousins |first=LS |author-link=L. S. Cousins |title=The Dating of the Historical Buddha: A Review Article |journal=Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society |volume=6 |issue=1 |pages=57–63 |year=1996 |doi=10.1017/s1356186300014760 |jstor=25183119 |s2cid=162929573 |url=http://indology.info/papers/cousins/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101220043745/http://indology.info/papers/cousins/ |archive-date=20 December 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Schumann|first=Hans Wolfgang|title=The Historical Buddha: The Times, Life, and Teachings of the Founder of Buddhism|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Press|year=2003|pages=10–13|isbn=8120818172}}</ref> Lumbini is one of four most sacred pilgrimage sites pivotal in the life of the Buddha.<ref>"The Eight Great Sacred Sites", ''Nekhor: Circling the Sacred'', Samye Translations.</ref>

Lumbini has a number of old temples, including the [[Maya Devi Temple, Lumbini|Mayadevi Temple]], and several new temples, funded by Buddhist organisations from various countries. Most of the temples have already been completed and some are still under construction. Many monuments, [[Buddhist monasticism|monasteries]], stupas, a museum, and the Lumbini International Research Institute are also near to the holy site. The Puskarini, or Holy Pond, is where Mayadevi, the Buddha's mother, is believed to have taken the ritual bath prior to his birth and where the Buddha also had his first bath. At other sites near Lumbini, earlier Buddhas were born, then achieved ultimate Enlightenment and finally relinquished their earthly forms.<ref name=":0" />

Lumbini was made a [[World Heritage Site]] by [[UNESCO]] in 1997.<ref name="UNESC01997" /><ref name="UNESCO2014" />{{refn|group=note|name="lumbini_location"|Buddhist scriptures and travel accounts of Chinese monks, Faxian and Xuanzang, describe relative location of cities Lumbini, Sravasti, Kapilavastu and Rajgir. Based on these data, recent work <ref>{{cite journal |last1=Mishra |first1=Ramakanta |date=December 2021 |title=Location of Kapilavastu: Resolving Contradictory Descriptions found in Buddhist Scriptures |journal=Journal of the U.S. Sangha for Buddhist Studies |url=https://www.jbspress.com/publications-1-issue |volume=02 |issue=2 |pages=64–76 |issn=2692-7357}}</ref> has used geometrical methods to pin-point the location of Lumbini. The results indicate that Kapilavastu and Lumbini were located to the south of Rajgir. Out of two historical Kosala's, [[Dakshina Kosala|South Koshala]] was located to the south of Rajgir. The results reject [[Kosala|North Kosala]] as Gautama Buddha's native country.}}

==In Buddha's time==
In the time of the Buddha, Lumbini was situated east of [[Kapilavastu (ancient city)|Kapilavastu]] and south-west of [[Devadaha]] of [[Shakya]], an oligarchic republic.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://lumbini.planetwebnepal.com/?page_id=475|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117104444/http://lumbini.planetwebnepal.com/?page_id=475|url-status=usurped|archive-date=17 November 2015|title=Ramagrama-Devadaha |date=2013|website=lumbini.planetwebnepal.com|publisher=Lumbini Development Trust|access-date=2016-09-29}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.worldhistory.org/Kapilavastu/|title=Kapilavastu|last=Violatti|first=Cristian|date=12 December 2013|website=[[World History Encyclopedia]]|access-date=29 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160814122252/http://www.ancient.eu/Kapilavastu/|archive-date=14 August 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> According to the Buddhist tradition, it was there that the Buddha was born.<ref>J.i.52, 54; Kvu.97, 559; AA.i.10; MA.ii.924; BuA.227; Cv.li.10, etc.</ref> [[Lumbini pillar inscription|Ashoka Pillar of Lumbini]], a monolithic column with an inscription in the ancient [[Brahmi script]] discovered at [[Rupandehi District|Rupandehi]] in 1896, is believed to mark the spot of [[Ashoka]]'s visit to Lumbini. The site was not known as Lumbini before the pillar was discovered.<ref name="Sen">{{cite book |last=Sen |first=A. C. |title=Buddhist shrines in India |publisher=Maha Bodhi Book Agency |year=2008 |isbn=978-81-87032-78-6 |location=Kolkota |page=24}}</ref> The translation of inscription (by Paranavitana) reads:

{{quote|When King Devanampriya Priyadarsin had been anointed twenty years, he came himself and worshipped (this spot), because the Buddha Shakyamuni was born here. (He) both caused to be made a stone bearing a horse and caused a stone pillar to be set up, (in order to show) that the Blessed One was born here. (He) made the village of Lumbini free of taxes, and paying (only) an eighth share (of the produce).<ref name="See Mukerji p. 27">See Mukerji: Asoka, p. 27; see p. 201f for details.</ref><ref>Paranavitana, S. (April–June 1962). "[[Rupandehi District|Rupandehi]] Pillar Inscription of Asoka", ''Journal of the American Oriental Society'', 82 (2), 163–167</ref>{{refn|group=note|name="translations"|Several alternative translations have been published.<ref>{{cite web |last = Weise |first = Kai |title = The Sacred Garden of Lumbini – Perceptions of Buddha's Birthplace |date = 2013|pages= 47–48|publisher = UNESCO |location= Paris |archive-date = 2014-08-30 |url = http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0022/002239/223986E.pdf |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140830011700/http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0022/002239/223986E.pdf |display-authors = etal}}</ref><ref>Hultzsch, E. (1925). [https://archive.org/details/InscriptionsOfAsoka.NewEditionByE.Hultzsch ''Inscriptions of Asoka'']. Oxford: Clarendon Press, pp. 164-165</ref>}}
}}

The park was previously known as [[Rupandehi District|Rupandehi]], {{convert|2|mi|abbr=on}} north of Bhagavanpura. The Sutta Nipáta (vs. 683) states that the Buddha was born in a village of the Sákyans in the Lumbineyya Janapada. The Buddha stayed in Lumbinívana during his visit to Devadaha and there preached the Devadaha Sutta.<ref>MA.ii.810</ref>

==Pillar of Ashoka==
{{Further|Lumbini pillar inscription}}
In 1896, former [[Commander-In-Chief of the Nepalese Army]] General [[Khadga Shamsher Jang Bahadur Rana]] and [[Alois Anton Führer]] discovered a great [[Pillars of Ashoka|stone pillar]] at [[Rupandehi District|Rupandehi]], according to the crucial historical records made by the ancient Chinese monk-pilgrim [[Xuanzang]] in the 7th century [[Common Era|CE]] and by another ancient Chinese monk-pilgrim [[Faxian]] in the early 5th century CE. The Brahmi inscription on the pillar gives evidence that [[Ashoka]], emperor of the [[Maurya Empire]], visited the place in 3rd-century BCE and identified it as the birth-place of the Buddha.

At the top of the pillar, there is a second inscription by king [[Ripumalla]] (1234 [[Saka Era]], 13-14th century CE), who is also known from an inscription at the [[Nigali Sagar]] pillar:

{{blockquote|''[[Om mani padme hum]]'' May Prince Ripu Malla be long victorious 1234|Inscription of King [[Ripumalla]] on the Lumbini pillar of Ashoka, 1234 Saka Era (13–14th century).<ref name="Huu Phuoc p.269"/>|source=}}

A second pillar of Ashoka is located about 22 kilometers to the northwest of Lumbini, the [[Nigali Sagar]] pillar (with inscription), and a third one 24 kilometers to the west, the [[Gotihawa]] pillar (without inscription).

== Lumbini complex ==
[[File:Lumbini Buddhist pilgrimage IMG 0678 18.jpg|thumb|241x241px|[[World Peace Pagoda, Lumbini|World Peace Pagoda]] in Lumbini]]
Lumbini is {{convert|4.8|km|0|abbr=on}} in length and {{convert|1.6|km|1|abbr=on}} in width. The holy site of Lumbini is bordered by a large monastic zone in which only monasteries can be built, no shops, hotels or restaurants. It is separated into an eastern and western monastic zone, the eastern having the [[Theravada|Theravadin]] monasteries, the western having [[Mahayana]] and [[Vajrayana]] monasteries. There is a long water filled canal separating the western and eastern zones, with a series of brick arch bridges joining the two sides along the length. The canal is serviced by simple outboard motor boats at the north end which provides tours. The holy site of Lumbini has ruins of ancient monasteries, a sacred [[Bodhi tree]], an ancient bathing pond, the [[Pillars of Ashoka|Ashokan pillar]] and the Mayadevi Temple, a site traditionally considered to be the birthplace of the Buddha. From early morning to early evening, pilgrims from various countries perform chanting and meditation at the site.

<gallery>
File:Nepal DSCN2126a.jpg|Ancient ruins at Lumbini
File:Lumbini, Buddhist pilgrims 2, Tree, Nepal.jpg|[[Bodhi tree]]
File:Mayadevi Temple and ruins of ancient monasteries in Lumbini 03.jpg|[[Maya Devi Temple, Lumbini|Mayadevi Temple]] and ruins of ancient monasteries
</gallery>

Lumbini complex is divided into three areas: the Sacred Garden, the Monastic Zone and the Cultural Center and New Lumbini Village. The Sacred Garden remains the epicenter of the Lumbini area and consists of the birthplace of [[Buddha]] and other monuments of archaeological and spiritual importance such as the [[Maya Devi Temple, Lumbini|Mayadevi Temple]], the [[Pillars of Ashoka|Ashoka Pillar]], the Marker Stone, the Nativity Sculpture, Puskarini Sacred Pond and other structural ruins of Buddhist stupas and viharas. The Monastic Zone, spanning an area of one square mile is divided into two zones: the East Monastic Zone which represents [[Theravada]] school of Buddhism and the West Monastic Zone which represents [[Mahayana]] and [[Vajrayana]] school of Buddhism, with their respective monasteries on the either side of a long pedestrian walkway and canal. Marking the monastic spot as a sacred pilgrimage site, many countries have established Buddhist stupas and monasteries in the monastic zone with their unique historical, cultural and spiritual designs. The Cultural Center and New Lumbini Village comprises Lumbini Museum, Lumbini International Research Institute, World Peace Pagoda of Japan, Lumbini Crane Sanctuary and other administrative offices.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|publisher=Lumbini Development Trust |title=Birthplace of Buddha, Historical Place of Nepal, The World Heritage SiteLumbini Development Trust|url=http://lumbinidevtrust.gov.np/en/lumbini/content/19|access-date=2022-01-28|website=lumbinidevtrust.gov.np}}</ref> In 2021, The [[Government of Bangladesh]] signed an agreement to construct a Buddhist monastery in Lumbini under the chairmanship of former premier of Bangladesh [[Sheikh Hasina]] with an intention of keeping a "symbol of Bangladesh at the birthplace of Lord Gautam Buddha".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Express |first=The Financial |title=Bangladesh set an instance of religious harmony: PM |url=https://today.thefinancialexpress.com.bd/metro-news/bangladesh-set-an-instance-of-religious-harmony-pm-1716654528 |access-date=2025-06-28 |website=The Financial Express |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-10-08 |title=Bangladesh to construct Buddhist Monastery in Nepal’s Lumbini |url=https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/bangladesh-construct-buddhist-monastery-nepals-lumbini-313219 |access-date=2025-06-28 |website=The Business Standard |language=en}}</ref> Similarly, in 2023, Russian Ambassador to Nepal Aleksei Novikov laid the foundation for the Russian Buddhist monastery in Lumbini to represent [[Russia|Russian Federation]] as well.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Construction of Russian Buddhist Temple begins in Lumbini |url=https://kathmandupost.com/money/2023/11/17/construction-of-russian-buddhist-temple-begins-in-lumbini |access-date=2025-06-28 |website=kathmandupost.com |language=English}}</ref> 

<gallery widths="150" heights="150">
File:Nepal Temple.JPG|Nepalese Temple
File:Lumbini-44-indischer Tempel-2013-gje.jpg|Indian Temple
File:Shanti stupa, World Peace Pagoda, Lumbini.jpg|Japanese Stupa
File:Royal Thai Monastery, Lumbini.jpg|Royal Thailand Monastery
File:Zhong Hua Chinese Buddhist Monastery, Lumbini, Nepal.jpg|Chinese Monastery
File:German Buddhist Temple (9105852247).jpg|German Monastery
File:French monastery.jpg|French Monastery
File:2015-03-16 Lumbini（Sri Lanka temple）ルンビニ・スリランカ寺 DSCF1296.jpg|Sri Lankan Temple
File:Stupa in Lumbini.jpg|South Korean Temple
File:2015-03-16 Lumbini（Cambodian Monastery）ルンビニ・カンボジア寺 DSCF1438.jpg|Cambodian Monastery
File:Austrian monastery 2.jpg|Austrian Monastery
File:Singapore monstery.jpg|Singapore Monastery
File:Temple By Canada.jpg|Canadian Temple
File:Vietnamese Temple (Phat Quoc Tu) in Lumbini, Nepal 2019-04-09.jpg|Vietnamese Temple
File:Urgen Dorjee Choling Buddhist Centre, Lumbini, Nepal.jpg|Urgen Dorjee Choling Centre
File:The Golden Temple in Lumbini.jpg|Golden Temple of Myanmar
File:Construction of "Russian" Buddhist Monestery at Lumbini the birthplace of the Lord Buddha.jpg|Russian Monastery (under construction, April 2024)
</gallery>

== Religious significance ==
[[File:Lumbini 1.jpg|thumb|201x201px|Marker stone of [[Gautama Buddha]]'s birth at [[Maya Devi Temple, Lumbini|Mayadevi Temple]]]]
Before [[parinirvana]] at the age of eighty, [[Gautama Buddha]] gave a sermon to his disciples on the significance of Lumbini, Nepal as a place of pilgrimage (Dīghanikāya, 16; [[Mahāparinibbāṇa Sutta]]):<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000223986 |title=The Sacred garden of Lumbini |publisher=UNESCO |year=2019 |isbn=978-92-3-001208-3 |access-date=2024-04-09}}</ref>

{{Quote |There are, O monks, four places on earth which a believing householder's son or a believing householder's daughter should commemorate as long as they live. Which are those four? –here the Venerable One has been born – here the Venerable One has attained the unsurpassable complete enlightenment – here the Venerable One has turned the threefold-turning, twelve-spoked lawful wheel – here the Venerable One has gone to the realm of complete nirvāṇa.|[[Dīgha Nikāya]], 16; [[Mahāparinibbāṇa Sutta]]
}}

Along with Lumbini, which is the [[Gautama Buddha|Buddha]]'s place of birth, [[Bodh Gaya]] where he attained [[Enlightenment in Buddhism|enlightenment]], [[Sarnath]] where he gave his first sermon and [[Kushinagar]] where he attained [[parinirvana]] are the four most significant pilgrimage sites in [[Buddhism]]. These four places form a pilgrimage circuit along [[Buddhist Pilgrimage|Buddha's Holy Sites]].

== Excavation at the Mayadevi Temple in 2013 ==
[[File:"May Peace Prevail on Earth" sign in front gate of Lumbini Nepal.jpg|thumb|264x264px|"May Peace Prevail on Earth" sign in front of the gate of Lumbini]]
New excavations in the Mayadevi temple in Lumbini in 2013 revealed a series of the most ancient Buddhist shrines in [[South Asia]] extending the history of the site to a much earlier date.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Earliest Buddhist shrines in South Asia discovered in Lumbini, Buddha's birthplace in Nepal |url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1053/ |access-date=2023-06-30 |website=UNESCO World Heritage Centre |language=en}}</ref> According to [[Robin Coningham]], excavations beneath existing brick structures at the Mayadevi Temple at Lumbini provide evidence for an older timber structure beneath the walls of a brick Buddhist shrine built during the Ashokan era (3rd-century BCE). The layout of the Ashokan shrine closely follows that of the earlier timber structure, which suggests a continuity of worship at the site. The pre-Mauryan timber structure appears to be an ancient tree shrine. Radiocarbon dating of charcoal from the wooden postholes and optically stimulated luminescence dating of elements in the soil suggests human activity began at Lumbini around 1000 BCE.<ref name="Coningham2013">{{cite journal |last1=Coningham |first1=R. A. E. |last2=Acharya |first2=K. P. |last3=Strickland |first3=K. M. |last4=Davis |first4=C. E. |last5=Manuel |first5=M. J. |last6=Simpson |first6=I. A. |last7=Gilliland |first7=K. |last8=Tremblay |first8=J. |last9=Kinnaird |first9=T. C. |last10=Sanderson |first10=D. C. W. |year=2013 |title=The earliest Buddhist shrine: excavating the birthplace of the Buddha, Lumbini (Nepal) |journal=Antiquity |volume=87 |issue=338 |pages=1104–23 |doi=10.1017/s0003598x00049899 |s2cid=54601247 |doi-access=free}}</ref> The site, states Coningham, may be a Buddhist monument from 6th-century BCE. Other scholars state that the excavations revealed nothing that is Buddhist, and they only confirm that the site predates the Buddha.<ref>[[Richard Gombrich]] (2013), [https://ocbs.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/rfg1213.pdf "Pseudo-discoveries at Lumbini"], Oxford Center for Buddhist Studies, Oxford University</ref><ref name="Fogelin2015">{{cite book |last=Fogelin |first=Lars |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tRV0BgAAQBAJ |title=An Archaeological History of Indian Buddhism |date=2 March 2015 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-994822-2}}</ref>

==Other developments==
[[File:Antonio Guterres speech in Lumbini, 2023.jpg|thumb|223x223px|[[António Guterres]], [[secretary-general of the United Nations]] speaking in Lumbini on his Nepal visit (2023)]]
[[File:PM in a Bilateral Meeting with the Prime Minister of Nepal, Mr. Sher Bahadur Deuba, in Lumbini, Nepal on May 16, 2022.jpg|thumb|224x224px|Prime Minister of Nepal [[Sher Bahadur Deuba]] with Indian Prime Minister [[Narendra Modi]] at Lumbini on [[Buddha's Birthday|Buddha Purnima]] ]]
Nepal's central bank has introduced a 100-rupee Nepali note featuring Lumbini, the birthplace of [[Buddha]]. The [[Nepal Rastra Bank]] said the new note would be accessible only during the [[Dashain]], Nepal's major festival in the time of September/October. It displays the portrait of Mayadevi, Gautam Buddha's mother in silver metallic on the front. The note also has a black dot which would help the blind recognise the note. The name of the central bank in Roman script would be printed on the note along with the date of printing in both the Gregorian Era and the [[Bikram Sambat|Bikram Era]]. The new note is being issued following a cabinet decision 27 August.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.indistannews.com/buddhas-birthplace-in-nepals-100-rupee-note/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202224201/http://www.indistannews.com/buddhas-birthplace-in-nepals-100-rupee-note/|url-status=dead|title=Buddha's birthplace in Nepal's 100-rupee note – Indistan News – National, Political and States News<!-- Bot generated title -->|archivedate=2 December 2013}}</ref>

[[Nipponzan Myohoji]] decided to build a [[Peace Pagoda]] in the park in 2001, which is visited by many different cultures and religions every day. Because some [[Hindus]] regard the Buddha as an incarnation of [[Vishnu]], thousands of Hindus have begun to come here on pilgrimage during the full moon of the Nepali month of Baisakh (April–May) to worship [[Maya (mother of Buddha)|Queen Mayadevi]] as Rupa Devi, the mother goddess of Lumbini. Lumbini was granted [[World Heritage Site|World Heritage]] status by [[UNESCO]] in 1997.<ref name="UNESC01997" /><ref name="UNESCO2014" />

In 2011, Lumbini Development National Director Committee wad formed under the leadership of Prime Minister [[Pushpa Kamal Dahal|Prachanda]].The committee was given the authority to "draft a master plan to develop Lumbini as a peaceful and tourism area and table the proposal" and the responsibility to gather international support for the same.<ref name="ekantipur1">{{cite web |title=Lumbini Development Committee formed under Dahal's leadership |url=http://www.ekantipur.com/2011/10/17/top-story/lumbini-development-committee-formed-under-dahals-leadership/342357.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111221070828/http://www.ekantipur.com/2011/10/17/top-story/lumbini-development-committee-formed-under-dahals-leadership/342357.html |archive-date=21 December 2011 |access-date=17 October 2011 |publisher=ekantipur}}</ref>

In 2022 on [[Buddha's Birthday]], Indian Prime Minister [[Narendra Modi]] and Nepalese Prime Minister [[Sher Bahadur Deuba]], jointly laid the foundation stone for the Indian monastery in Lumbini.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lumbini Development Trust- Birthplace of Buddha, Historical Place of Nepal, The World Heritage SiteLumbini Development Trust |url=https://lumbinidevtrust.gov.np/en/home/news/details/291 |access-date=2024-04-03 |website=lumbinidevtrust.gov.np}}</ref> Nepal-India cultural events are held annually in Lumbini highlighting the close spiritual and cultural  connection between the two countries.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Republica |title=Nepal-India cultural festival held in Lumbini |url=http://myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com/news/149049/ |access-date=2024-04-03 |website=My Republica |language=en}}</ref> [[António Guterres]], [[secretary-general of the United Nations]] made a visit to Lumbini in the October of 2023 and "urged everyone to reflect on the core teachings of Buddhism and their relevance in today’s troubled world ", highlighting conflicts around the world from Middle East to Ukraine to Africa, undermining of global rules and their devastating impacts on ordinary people, especially women and children.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-10-31 |title=On sacred ground in Nepal, UN chief calls for global action for peace {{!}} UN News |url=https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/10/1143047 |access-date=2024-10-09 |website=news.un.org |language=en}}</ref>

==Tourism==
In 2019, Lumbini received 1.5 million tourists from around the world.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Sansar|first=Nepali|date=2020-01-06|title=Lumbini Tourist Arrivals Reach 1.5 Million in 2019|url=https://www.nepalisansar.com/tourism/lumbini-tourist-arrivals-reach-1-5-million-in-2019/|access-date=2022-01-28|website=Nepali Sansar|language=en-US}}</ref>

===Transport===
Lumbini is a 10-hour drive from [[Kathmandu]] and a 30-minute drive from [[Bhairahawa]]. The closest airport is [[Gautam Buddha Airport]] at Bhairahawa, with flights to and from Kathmandu.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://welcomenepal.com/promotional/tourist-destination/lumbini/|title=Lumbini|publisher=Welcome Nepal|access-date=19 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130817184319/http://welcomenepal.com/promotional/tourist-destination/lumbini/|archive-date=17 August 2013|url-status=usurped}}</ref>

===Places to visit===
* [[Maya Devi Temple, Lumbini|Maya Devi Temple]]
* [[World Peace Pagoda, Lumbini]]
* [[Lumbini pillar inscription|Ashoka Pillar of Lumbini]]
* [[Lumbini Crane Sanctuary]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.buddha-statues.info/|title=Things to do in Lumbini - birthplace of Buddha &#124; Buddha Statues|website=www.buddha-statues.info}}</ref>

===New hotel construction===
With an upsurge in international tourists and completion of [[Gautam Buddha Airport|Gautam Buddha International Airport]], the region has seen massive investments in the construction of series of hotels in and around Lumbini.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sen |first=Sandeep |date=2018-12-16 |title=New hotels being constructed in Lumbini |url=https://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/new-hotels-being-constructed-in-lumbini |access-date=2025-06-28 |website=The Himalayan Times |language=en}}</ref> The tourist boom triggered a building spree with 80 new hotels being constructed in the year of 2017 alone.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Airport construction triggers hotel boom in Rupandehi |url=https://kathmandupost.com/money/2018/04/12/airport-construction-triggers-hotel-boom-in-rupandehi |access-date=2025-06-28 |website=kathmandupost.com |language=English}}</ref>

== Sister cities==
Lumbini has four official [[Twin towns and sister cities|sister cities]]:
*{{flagicon|India}} [[Kushinagar]], India (2022)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://zeenews.india.com/india/india-nepal-agree-to-establish-sister-city-relations-between-lumbini-and-kushinagar-check-details-of-mous-signed-today-2464090.html | title=India-Nepal agree to establish sister-city relations between Lumbini and Kushinagar; check details of MoUs signed today |date=16 May 2022 |website=Zee News }}</ref>
*{{flagicon|India}} [[Bodh Gaya]], India<ref>{{cite press release |title=Outcomes during the visit of Prime Minister to Nepal (November 25-27, 2014): MoU on Twinning arrangements between Kathmandu-Varanasi, Janakpur-Ayodhya and Lumbini-Bodh Gaya as sister cities |url=https://mea.gov.in/media-advisory.htm?dtl/24322/Outcomes+during+the+visit+of+Prime+Minister+to+Nepal+November+2527+2014 |website=Government of India: Ministry of External Affairs |date=26 November 2014}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|Spain}} [[Cáceres, Spain|Cáceres]], Spain<ref>{{cite web |title=Cáceres y Lumbini Rubrican su Hermanamiento en un 'Día Histórico' |date=8 April 2021 |url=https://www.ayto-caceres.es/noticias/caceres-y-lumbini-rubrican-su-hermanamiento-en-un-dia-historico/ |website=Cáceres City Council |lang=es |trans-title=Cáceres and Lumbini Sign their Twinning on a 'Historic Day'}}</ref>
*{{Flagicon|Japan}} [[Kōya, Wakayama|Kōya]], Japan<ref>{{Cite web |website=Lumbini Development Trust |title=Lumbini-Nepal and Koya Town-Japan twinned Sister City |url=https://lumbinidevtrust.gov.np/en/home/news/details/51 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180330113802/https://lumbinidevtrust.gov.np/en/home/news/details/51 |archive-date=30 March 2018 }}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Bodh Gaya]]
* [[Sarnath]]
* [[Kushinagar]]
* [[Maya Devi Temple, Lumbini]]
* [[Lumbini Buddhist University]]
* [[Lumbini Development Trust]]
* [[Lumbini pillar inscription]]
* [[Pillars of Ashoka]]
* [[Ramagrama stupa]]
* [[Kindo Baha]]
* [[Pranidhipurna Mahavihar]]
* [[Rajgir]]
* [[World Peace Pagoda, Lumbini|World Peace Pagoda]]
* [[List of stupas in Nepal]]
* [[List of monasteries in Nepal|List of Buddhist monasteries in Nepal]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}
{{noteslist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite book |title=Lumbini - The birthplace of Lord Buddha in Nepal. Completing the Kenzo Tange master Plan. |publisher=UNESCO |url=https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000220846}}

==Bibliography==
* {{Citation |last = Weise |first = Kai |title = The Sacred Garden of Lumbini – Perceptions of Buddha's Birthplace |date = 2013 |publisher = UNESCO |location= Paris |archive-date = 2014-08-30 |url = http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0022/002239/223986E.pdf |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140830011700/http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0022/002239/223986E.pdf |display-authors = etal}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Lumbini}}
{{EB1911 poster|Lumbinī}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20150912072331/http://www.lumkap.org.uk/ Lumbini On Trial: The Untold Story]
* {{Wikivoyage inline}}
* [http://www.dmoz.org/search?q=Lumbini Lumbini at the Open Directory Project]
* [https://www.worldheritagesite.org/list/Lumbini Lumbini at WorldHeritageSite.org Listing]

{{Buddhism topics}}
{{Gautama Buddha}}
{{World Heritage Sites in Nepal |state=expanded}}

[[Category:Buddhist pilgrimage sites in Nepal]]
[[Category:Populated places in Rupandehi District]]
[[Category:World Heritage Sites in Nepal]]
[[Category:Rupandehi District]]
[[Category:Buddhist archaeological sites]]
[[Category:Archaeological sites in Nepal]]
[[Category:Cultural heritage of Nepal]]