How to Travel to Lumbini, Nepal (By Bus, Flights)

Want to know how to travel to Lumbini?

I’ve got you covered! After many years, I finally managed to visit Lumbini and here is everything you need to know about how to get there.

Lumbini is said to be the birthplace of Buddha and the town is located in the south, Tarai Region of Nepal, near the border to India.

The distance from Kathmandu to Lumbini is 288 km. The bus journey takes 11 hours and costs Rs. 1,300-1,500. 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.

The distance from Pokhara to Lumbini is 203 km. The bus journey takes 8 hours and costs Rs. 1,200. While, the flight takes 20 minutes from Pokhara to Bhairahawa, and costs USD 78 (Rs. 10,500) for foreigners and Rs. 4,000 for Nepali citizens.

If you take a flight to Bhairahawa or the tourist bus drops you in Bhairahawa, there are local buses from Bhairahawa to Lumbini. The local bus then takes around 30 minutes to Lumbini and costs Rs. 100.

How to Travel to Lumbini

To get to Lumbini, you have the options to travel by bus or flight. Most of the buses will drop you in Bhairahawa, from where there is a local bus that takes you to Lumbini in 30 minutes.

You can also fly to Bhairahawa, which is a short 20-30 minutes flight from other big cities in Nepal, such as Kathmandu or Pokhara.

How to Travel from Kathmandu to Lumbini

Kathmandu to Lumbini Distance

Lumbini is around 288 km from Kathmandu and getting there by bus takes around 11 hours.

Kathmandu to Lumbini Bus

There are buses going to Lumbini on a daily basis. There are some day buses leaving at 7 am in the morning, as well as night buses that leave between 7-8 pm. The journey takes up the whole day or whole night, as it is a long bus ride.

Most of the buses will drop you in Bhairahawa, and from there, you will have to catch a local bus to Lumbini. If you buy a bus ticket that has the destination marked as Lumbini, then you should not have to pay for the local bus in Bhairawa when you change buses.

The buses leave from the Gongabu Bus Park (also called as Naya/New Bus Park) in Kathmandu. It is also possible to get on the bus in Kalanki. If you get on the bus on the Ring Road, make sure to call the contact person the day before to confirm the pick up location.

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Kathmandu to Lumbini Bus Time

The buses leave at 7 am and 8 pm from Kathmandu to Lumbini. The bus journey takes 11 hours and costs Rs. 1,300-1,500.

Kathmandu to Lumbini Bus Ticket Price

• A/C Bus: Rs. 1,300-1,400
• Tourist Bus: Rs. 1,500
• Local Bus from Bhairawa to Lumbini: around Rs. 100

Kathmandu to Lumbini Flight

The closest airport to Lumbini is the Bhairahawa Airport (also called as the Gautam Buddha Airport). There are daily flights from Kathmandu to Bhairahawa and it is a quick way to get to Lumbini.

The flight from Kathmandu to Bhairahawa takes 30 minutes, and costs USD 86 (Rs. 11,500) for foreigners and Rs. 5,000 for Nepali citizens.

Once you land in Bhairahawa, there are local buses from Bhairahawa to Lumbini. The local bus then takes about 30 minutes to get to Lumbini and costs Rs. 100.

How to Travel from Pokhara to Lumbini

Pokhara to Lumbini Distance

Lumbini is 203 km from Pokhara and it takes around 8 hours to get there by bus.

Pokhara to Lumbini Bus

There are daily buses that go from Pokhara to Lumbini. The buses leave between 7-8:30 am in the morning and reaches Lumbini in about 8 hours.

Due to the mountainous roads and roadworks, bus travel in Nepal can take a long time. So, it is best to prepare mentally that you may spend the whole day on the bus.

There are options for both A/C and tourist buses (sofa seater) to travel from Pokhara to Lumbini.

The bus might drop you at Bhairahawa where you will have to change to a local bus to Lumbini. If so, check if your ticket includes the bus trip until Lumbini. If it does, you will not have to pay for the local bus. The local bus usually takes 30 minutes and costs around Rs. 100.

The buses leave from the Tourist Bus Park in Pokhara to Lumbini. It is about 30 minutes’ walk from Lakeside, or alternatively, you can take a taxi to get there. There are lots of taxis around Lakeside all day long, even early morning.

Pokhara to Lumbini Bus Time

There are daily buses that go from Pokhara to Lumbini. The buses leave between 7-8:30 am in the morning and reaches Lumbini in about 8 hours.

Pokhara to Lumbini Bus Ticket Price

The price of the bus ticket from Pokhara to Lumbini is Rs. 1,200.

Pokhara to Lumbini Flight

The closest airport to Lumbini is the Bhairahawa Airport (also called as the Gautam Buddha Airport). There are daily flights from Pokhara to Bhairahawa and it is a quick way to get to Lumbini.

The flight from Pokhara to Bhairahawa takes 20 minutes, and costs USD 78 (Rs. 10,500) for foreigners and Rs. 4,000 for Nepali citizens.

Once you land in Bhairahawa, there are local buses from Bhairahawa to Lumbini. The local bus then takes about 30 minutes to get to Lumbini and costs Rs. 100.

Buses in Nepal

The tourist buses are considered the safest buses in Nepal. Nepal has mountainous roads so when you travel long distances by bus, sometimes it can take up the whole day.

The tourist buses are more comfortable than local buses but as the bus journeys can take long, sometimes, even the tourist buses can feel uncomfortable. This is due to the bumpy roads and long hours on the bus.

Usually, most tourist buses have an AC or fans during the hotter months and a 1 litre bottled water is always included in the ticket.

How to Buy the Bus Ticket to Lumbini

If it’s your first time in Nepal, the easiest way to get a bus ticket is if you buy it at a travel agency or ask your hotel to arrange it for you.

Travel Agency: There are many travel agencies in big cities in Nepal (Kathmandu, Pokhara, Sauraha/Chitwan) selling tourist bus tickets. It is quick and easy to buy bus tickets through an agency. The bus ticket bought from travel agencies is a little bit more expensive as they also add commission to the price but it is generally the most convenient option.

At Your Hotel: Most of the hotels can also arrange a bus ticket for you. Just ask at the reception and they will be able to get the bus ticket for you.

Online on BusSewa: It is also possible to buy bus tickets online on BusSewa.com. The platform is easy to use and you can pay for the ticket with an international bank card. It is usually best to just buy the bus ticket 1-2 days ahead of travel and here you can read my tips and tricks for booking bus tickets online in Nepal.

Browsing Bus Tickets Online in Nepal

If you just want to browse bus tickets online, you can also use BusSewa.com. BusSewa is a great platform and easy to use. You can use it to browse bus schedules, tickets and prices, even if at the end you prefer to buy the bus ticket from a travel agency in person.

How to Buy Flight Tickets in Nepal

Buddha Air is considered as one of Nepal’s more trusted airlines. Check out Buddha Air’s website for schedules and prices.

Tips for Taking Flights in Nepal

Book a Morning Flight

Flights often get delayed or cancelled due to bad weather in Nepal. The earlier your flight is, the most chance you have of flying out that day.

Once the weather clears, they start the flights take off in the order they were supposed to fly.

This means that if you were going to fly on the first flight in the morning, your flight will be the first one to fly out. If you were on a later flight, your flight might get delayed to the next day.

Hotels in Lumbini

There are not that many hotels to choose from in Lumbini, but here are my top recommendations for every budget:

Things to Do in Lumbini

Lumbini is a small town, mostly famous for the Maya Devi Temple. Generally, you can explore all the main attractions within 1 day, so Lumbini can be a quick stop in your Nepal trip.

Here are some of the best places to visit in Lumbini:

• Maya Devi Temple
• Lumbini Monastic Zone
• Eternal Peace Flame of Lumbini
• World Peace Pagoda

Nepal Transport Guide

Looking for information on how to get to other destinations in Nepal? Check out my transport guides:

• How to Get from Kathmandu to Pokhara
• How to Get from Pokhara to Kathmandu
• How to Get from Pokhara to Chitwan
• How to Get from Chitwan to Pokhara
• How to Get from Chitwan to Kathmandu
• How to Get from Kathmandu to Chitwan
• How to Get to Bardia National Park
• How to Get to Bandipur
• How to Get to Janakpur
• How to Get to Tansen (Palpa)
• How to Get to Lumbini
• How to Get to Gorkha
• How to Get to the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve

FAQs: How to Travel to Lumbini

How do I get to Lumbini?

You can get to Lumbini either by bus or flight.

If you are travelling from Kathmandu to Lumbini, the bus journey takes 11 hours and costs Rs. 1,300-1,500.

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.

How many days do you need in Lumbini?

Lumbini is not too big and it is possible to cover all the main tourist attractions in one day. Lumbini is not a touristy town like Pokhara or Chitwan, so apart from the main attractions, there are not that much else to do.

The best places to visit in 1 day in Lumbini include the Maya Devi Temple, Eternal Peace Flame, Lumbini Monastic Zone and the World Peace Pagoda.

How long does it take to reach Lumbini from Kathmandu?

Lumbini is 288 km from Kathmandu by road. The bus journey from Kathmandu to Lumbini takes 11 hours and costs Rs. 1,300-1,500.

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. Once you land in Bhairahawa, there are local buses that go to Lumbini.

Is there a flight from Kathmandu to Lumbini?

The closest airport to Lumbini is the Bhairahawa Airport. The flight takes only 30 minutes from Kathmandu to Bhairahawa, and costs USD 86 (Rs. 11,500) for foreigners and Rs. 5,000 for Nepali citizens.

Bhairahawa is about 30 minutes from Lumbini and after you land, there are local buses you can take to Lumbini.

How do I get from Kathmandu to Lumbini?

You can either take a bus or flight from Kathmandu to Lumbini.

The bus journey takes 11 hours and costs Rs. 1,300-1,500. 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.

How far is Pokhara from Lumbini by road?

Lumbini is 203 km from Pokhara by road and there are daily buses that go from Pokhara to Lumbini. The bus journey takes 8 hours and costs Rs. 1,200.

How long is the bus from Pokhara to Lumbini?

The bus journey from Pokhara to Lumbini takes around 8 hours and costs Rs. 1,200.

How far is Pokhara from Lumbini by flight?

If you want to take a flight from Lumbini to Pokhara, the closest airport to Lumbini is the Bhairahawa Airport. You can get to Bhairahawa by local by from Lumbini, which takes around 30 minutes.

Then, the flight takes only 20 minutes from Bhairahawa to Pokhara. It costs USD 78 (Rs. 10,500) for foreigners and Rs. 4,000 for Nepali citizens.

How far is Bhairahawa from Lumbini?

The distance from Bhairahawa to Lumbini is 26 km. It takes around 30 minutes to get from Bhairahawa to Lumbini by local bus and the bus fare costs Rs. 100.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Lumbini is well connected with other big cities in Nepal with daily buses and flights.

The distance from Kathmandu to Lumbini is 288 km. The bus journey takes 11 hours and costs Rs. 1,300-1,500. 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.

The distance from Pokhara to Lumbini is 203 km. The bus journey takes 8 hours and costs Rs. 1,200. While, the flight takes 20 minutes from Pokhara to Bhairahawa, and costs USD 78 (Rs. 10,500) for foreigners and Rs. 4,000 for Nepali citizens.

If you take a flight to Bhairahawa or the tourist bus drops you in Bhairahawa, there are local buses from Bhairahawa to Lumbini. The local bus then takes around 30 minutes to Lumbini and costs Rs. 100.