Lumbini
Lumbini is situated on the Terai Plains, at the foot of the Himilayas and is the birthplace of Siddhartha Gautama, the Lord Buddha, born in 623 B.C. It has become a Mecca for Buddhists and is one of the four holy places of Buddhism. In 1997 it was added to UNISCO's World Heritage List.
The Sacred Garden is where Lord Buddha was born. In its grounds stands the Ashoka Pillar, erected by Indian Emperor Ashoka in 249 B.C. to commemorate his royal visit.
Maya Devi Temple is believed to stand on the spot where Lord Buddha was born, alongside the Ashoka Pillar and houses a bas-relief which depicts his birth. To the south of the temple can be found Pushkarni Pond, where it is believed Lord Buddha's mother Maya Devi bathed, before giving birth.
In a bid to promote Lumbini the Sacred Garden has become an International Monastery Zone, with many countries having erected temples, stupas and monasteries. Such sites include; the International Gautami Nuns Temple, a replica of Swayambhunath in Kathmandu, the Japan Peace Stupa, the China Monastery and the Myanmar Temple.
The Lumbini Museum contains Mauryan and Kushana coins, religious manuscripts and stone and metal sculptures. However one of its feature attractions is an extensive collection of stamps from around the world, depicting Lord Buddha.
The Lumbini International Research Institute (LIRI) stands opposite the Lumbini Museum and specialises in the study of Buddhism and other religions, housing in excess of 12,000 books on religion, philosophy, art and architecture.
