Lumbini, where Buddha was born as Prince Shiddhartha Gautam. The site is in a beautiful Garden. Lumbini is about 20 minute drive from Siddarth Nagar, a town in mid western Nepal. Ashok Pillar, Maya Devi Temple, Archeological excavation sites, various Buddhist temples and monasteries built by various Buddhist countries from all over worlds are in the Lumbini Garden.
Bodhgaya, where Buddha enlightened under a Holy Banyan tree.
Sarnath, where Siddhartha Gautama who came to be known as the Buddha, the 'Awakened One', delivered his first sermon, after attaining enlightenment.
Kusinagar is revered as the site of the Buddha's Mahaparinirvana, his death and cremation that marked his final liberation from the cycles of death and rebirth.
Temples and Monuments in Lumbini
Ashoka Pillar - an inscribed pillar erected by Emperor Ashoka (249 BC) on the spot of Buddha's birth. The inscription, which is the oldest in Nepal, grants Lumbini a tax-free status in honor of Buddha’s birth.
Buddhist Temples - there are foundations of temples dating from the 2nd century BC to the 9th century AD, and two modern temples: one in Tibetan style, the Dharma Swami Maharaja Buddha Temple, which was built by the king of Mustang, and one Nepalese Theravada style building, the Lumbini Buddha Vihar, which was built by the Nepalese government and contains Tibetan-style frescoes and Newari-style Buddhist images. Outside the main complex, there are other temples built in the styles of countries where Buddhism is the predominant religion, such as Chinese, Japanese and Burmese.
The Japan Peace Stupa - the 41m imposing structure is situated at the northern end of the gardens.
The Lumbini Museum displays artifacts from the Mauryan and Kushana periods, religious manuscripts and other items discovered at the site.
The Lumbini International Research Institute (LIRI) is devoted to the study of Buddhism and other religions. It houses an extensive collection of books on religion, art and architecture.
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