About Lumbini

Overview

Lumbini, in Nepal's Rupandehi district close to the Indian border, is where the Buddha was born, traditionally around 563 BCE. The Sacred Garden holds the Maya Devi Temple over the birth site, the Pushkarini pond and the pillar Emperor Ashoka put up when he came here on pilgrimage, and the site has been on the UNESCO World Heritage list since 1997. North of the garden, a long canal runs through the Monastic Zone, where Buddhist countries and communities have built their own monasteries, and ends at the World Peace Pagoda. It is about an hour by road from the Sonauli border, so Indian pilgrims often add it to a circuit with Kushinagar, Sarnath and Bodh Gaya.

Best Time to Visit Lumbini

Plan your trip around the right season

Oct-NovBest Window

Why visit

Dry, warm days after the monsoon for walking between the temple and the monasteries.

Keep in mind

Afternoons can still be warm for long walks in the open garden.

Dec-FebBest Window

Why visit

Cool, comfortable days and the main pilgrimage season.

Keep in mind

Dense morning fog is common in the Terai, and nights are cold. Flights to Bhairahawa can be delayed by fog.

Mar-May

Why visit

Buddha Jayanti, the Buddha's birthday, falls in April or May and brings large pilgrim groups.

Keep in mind

The plains heat up fast, with afternoons often above 35°C by May.

Jun-Sep

Why visit

Fewer visitors and green fields around the zone.

Keep in mind

Monsoon heat, humidity and rain, with muddy paths in the Monastic Zone.

How to Reach Lumbini

Intercity connectivity and travel options

Gautam Buddha International Airport at Bhairahawa is about 20 km from Lumbini and has domestic flights from Kathmandu. From India, cross at Sonauli in Uttar Pradesh to Bhairahawa (Belahiya); Gorakhpur, about 95 km south of the border, is the nearest major Indian railway station, with buses and taxis to Sonauli. From the border, buses, shared jeeps and taxis reach Lumbini in about an hour. Long distance buses also link Lumbini and Bhairahawa with Kathmandu, Pokhara and Chitwan. Indian citizens do not need a visa for Nepal, by road or by air. Carry a valid Indian passport or an original voter ID card issued by the Election Commission of India; Aadhaar, PAN cards and driving licences are not accepted as travel documents. Children can travel on a birth certificate or school ID. If you fly in, carry your passport.

Getting Around Lumbini

Local transport and practical tips

Local transport

The Sacred Garden and the Monastic Zone together stretch several kilometres north to south. Cycle rickshaws, e rickshaws and rented bicycles are the usual way to get between the Maya Devi Temple, the monasteries and the Peace Pagoda.

Best Areas to Stay in Lumbini

Pick the right neighbourhood for your trip

Lumbini Bazaar

Short pilgrim stays

Guesthouses and small hotels by the main gate of the Sacred Garden, within walking or rickshaw distance of the Maya Devi Temple.

Bhairahawa (Siddharthanagar)

Early flights and border crossings

The larger town near the Sonauli border and the airport, with more hotel choice, about 30 to 40 minutes by road from Lumbini.