 |
|
|
|
|
Popular Tourist
Destinations In Nepal |
|
Places To See In Lumbini |
Lumbini is the birthplace of
Gautam Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, which
was destined to be the prevalent religion in
Asia. This nativity site, identified by the
Ashokan Pillar, erected by Magadhan emperor
Ashoka, to commemorate the birth place of
Buddha, the Lumbini grove. The pillar was
erected over 2200 years ago, making lumbini the
quintessential Buddhist heritage site. Among the
prime attractions are the sacred garden with an
area of 8 sq. km, the Mayadevi Temple with a bas
relief of Mayadevi, the Buddha's mother and a
sacred stone marked with a "foot imprint" of
Ashoka. The Ashokan Pillar, the oldest monument
so far found in Nepal lies to the west of the
Mayadevi Temple. Today only the lower shaft of
the pillar stands, the upper past having been
split into two. There is no trace of the horse
capital. To the south of the pillar is Puskarni,
the sacred pond, wherein, Mayadevi is said to
have had taken a bath just before giving birth
to the Buddha - the Enlightened one.
For those interested in the treasury of cultural
and archaeological riches, Lumbini is the
perfect place to be there with a number of stupa,
monasteries, meditation centers and
bahals(courtyard), no other place evokes the
time and aura of the Buddha like Lumbini, the
Hallowed birthplace of the Apostle of Peace.
|
| |
Some of the Interesting
Places To See In Lumbini |
|
Museums |
The Lumbini Museums 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.
Kapilavastu Museum is situated 27 km west of
Lumbini in Tilaurakot. The museum holds coins,
pottery and toys dating between the seventh
century BC and fourth century AD. The museum
also has a good collection of jewelry and other
ornaments from that period. Open daily, except
Tuesday and holidays.
|
|
|
|
Temples and Monasteries |
The Myanmar Temple (Lokamani
Cula Pagoda) is a gleaming gold and white
structure gracefully soaring into the sky in the
style of the She-dagon Pagoda in Yangon. There
is a monastery complex behind the temple.
Nearby, the international Gautam 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 houses in its
main pagoda.
|
|
|
|
Tilaurakot |
Tilaurakot, 27 km to the west
of Lumbini, contains the ruins of ancient
Kapilavastu, 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 meternal home of Mayadevi, lies 35
km to the northeast of Lumbini – just off the
Butwal- Narayanghat section of the
East-west-highway.
|
|
|
|
Niglihawa |
Niglihawa situated about 32
kilometers northwest of Lumbini, is a
significant archaeological site. A large tank
known as Niglisagar is in the region. Close to
the tank lie the remain of broken Ashoka Pillar.
The piece of pillar have been protected by the
Lumbini Development Trust protected this part
and placed it enar the lower part.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
