The 6 Best Places to Visit in Lumbini, Nepal

Looking for the best places to visit in Lumbini?

Lumbini is a Buddhist pilgrimage site in Nepal and it is said to be the birthplace of Buddha. Lumbini is a small town and if you are short on time, it is possible to visit all the attractions in one day.

It can get really hot in Lumbini, and it is best to visit the attractions in the morning or later in the afternoon. I visited Lumbini in the month of May and it was super hot, like no amount of sunscreen or drinking water could help. Other times, like Autumn or early Spring are much better.

I find that Lumbini is not as well developed to cater to tourists like Pokhara or Chitwan. There are not really any western type of restaurants or bars where you can chill, so after exploring all the attractions, there is not that much else to do.

So, here are the best places to visit in Lumbini!

Best Time to Visit Lumbini

The best time to visit Lumbini is from Mid-September to November and Mid-February to April. During this time, the weather is not too hot so it makes it more enjoyable to explore the sites.

Lumbini is located in the southern, Tarai region of Nepal, which gets very hot during the monsoon season (June-August) and cold during the winter (December-January). In the winter, it gets so foggy that usually there is no sunlight for days on end.

May: Although the temperature is very hot during May, Buddha’s birthday usually falls in May so it can be an interesting time to visit Lumbini then.

How to Get from Kathmandu to Lumbini

The distance from Kathmandu to Lumbini is 288 km and there are daily buses and flights that connect Kathmandu to Lumbini.

The bus journey from Kathmandu to Lumbini takes around 11 hours and costs Rs. 1,300-1,500 (USD 9.5-11). While, the flight takes 30 minutes from Kathmandu to Bhairahawa, and costs USD 86 (Rs. 11,500) for foreigners and Rs. 5,000 for Nepali citizens.

🚗 For more information, check out how to travel to Lumbini here!

Best Places to Visit in Lumbini

1. Maya Devi Temple

• Maya Devi Temple Ticket Price: Rs. 500 (USD 4)

The Maya Devi Temple is a major attraction and is one of the most famous places to visit in Lumbini. The temple is within the Sacred Garden, which is such a peaceful, quiet garden.

The birthplace of Buddha is said to be inside the Maya Devi Temple and it is marked by the Marker Stone. You can go inside the temple and you will see the Marker Stone too.

Within the Sacred Garden, there is also the Sacred Pond, Bodhi Tree and the Ashoka Pillar. The Ashoka Pillar was built to commemorate the birthplace of Buddha by the Emperor Ashoka in 249 BC.

2. Eternal Peace Flame of Lumbini

The Eternal Peace Flame is a little bit of walk away from the Sacred Garden. It was built in 1986 and it symbolizes peace and harmony.

They say that the flame is lit all the time, and if it is rainy, then they make arrangements to make sure the flame keeps burning.

There is a path leading here from the Maya Devi Temple, but make sure that you have a plenty of water with you, as it can be a heavy walk if the weather is hot.

3. Lumbini Monastic Site

The Lumbini Monastic Site is over a pretty big area and is divided into the East and West Monastic Zones.

In the West Zone, there are 18 monasteries and 2 meditations centres, including the Great Lotus Stupa and the Chinese Monastery.

The East Zone is slightly smaller than the West Zone but still includes 9 monasteries. The impressive Myanmar Golden Temple and the Thai Royal Monastery are located in the East Zone. Most of the monasteries are open to the public and you can visit the public areas.

The Monastic Zone is across a big area, so it is best to hire a tuktuk to take you around the monasteries. There are also bicycles for hire in Lumbini, if you prefer to cycle around the Monastic Site.

4. World Peace Pagoda

The World Peace Pagoda was built by Japanese Buddhists, designed to inspire peace and unite humanity.

It is on the far end of Lumbini but if you hire a tuktuk or bicycle, it is not far from the Monastic Site. I took a tuktuk there and you can ask the driver to wait for you while you walk around the pagoda.

The pagoda is not so big and you can see it in 5-10 minutes, so the driver can wait for you. Otherwise, the pagoda is a bit off from the city center of Lumbini and it could be difficult to get another driver.

5. Explore Lumbini on Bike

One way to discover the town and the Monastic Site is by bicycle. As the Monastic Site is across a large area, you can rent a bike and see the different temples at your own pace.

Just remember to have plenty of water and sunscreen with you if it is a hot and sunny day.

6. Lumbini Museum

What I liked most about the Lumbini Museum is that the building of the museum is very unique and it is a great place to learn more about Buddhism and see artefacts related to the development of Buddhism.

FAQs: Best Places to Visit in Lumbini, Nepal

What is Lumbini famous for?

Lumbini is famous as it is said to be the birthplace of Buddha.

A famous temple in Lumbini is the Maya Devi Temple which has the Marker Stone inside. The Marker Stone signifies the place where Buddha was said to be born.

What is the famous temple in Lumbini?

The most famous temple in Lumbini is the Maya Devi Temple. It has the Marker Stone inside which marks the birthplace of Buddha.

What is the best time to visit Lumbini?

The best time to visit Lumbini is from Mid-September to November and Mid-February to April. The weather is the most pleasant during this time.

On the one hand, Lumbini gets extremely hot and humid during the monsoon season (June-August). On the other hand, Lumbini gets very cold during the winter.

Is Lumbini worth visiting?

I would say that Lumbini is worth visiting if you are curious to see the Maya Devi Temple and the place that is said to mark the birthplace of Buddha.

Apart from the Maya Devi Temple, there are a few other tourist attractions in Lumbini such as the Monastic Zone, World Peace Pagoda, Eternal Peace Flame and the Lumbini Museum.

How many days do you need to see Lumbini?

Lumbini is a small town and you can explore everything in one day. Once you explore the main attractions, there is not much else to do in Lumbini.

The town is not yet as developed for tourists such as Pokhara or Sauraha (Chitwan), so there is not any place to chill.

With that in mind, you can probably visit Lumbini as a 1 day/2 nights trip.

What are the best things to do in Lumbini?

The best things to do in Lumbini include visiting the Maya Devi Temple, Lumbini Monastic Zone, World Peace Pagoda, Eternal Peace Flame and the Lumbini Museum.

What are the major Lumbini tourist attractions?

The Lumbini tourist attractions include the Maya Devi Temple, which is said to be the birthplace of Buddha. Apart from the Maya Devi Temple, other attractions include the World Peace Pagoda, Eternal Peace Flame, Lumbini Monastic Zone and the Lumbini Museum.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Lumbini is worth visiting if you are curious to see the Maya Devi Temple, which is said to be the birthplace of Buddha.

Apart from the Maya Devi Temple some other places to visit include the Lumbini Monastic Zone, Eternal Peace Flame, World Peace Pagoda and the Lumbini Museum.

The best time to visit Lumbini is from Mid-September to November and Mid-February to April. The weather is the most pleasant during this time as it is not too hot and not too cold either.