Lumbini#Present-day

{{Infobox settlement

| name = Lumbinī

| native_name =

| native_name_lang =

| image_skyline = File:BRP Lumbini Mayadevi temple.jpg

| settlement_type = City

| elevation_m = 150

| pushpin_map = Nepal Lumbini Province#Nepal

| pushpin_relief = yes

| pushpin_map_alt =

| pushpin_map_caption = Location of Lumbini in Nepal

| pushpin_label_position = top

| coordinates = {{coord|27|28|53|N|83|16|33|E|display=inline}}

| subdivision_type = Country

| subdivision_name = Nepal

| subdivision_type1 = Province

| subdivision_name1 = Lumbini Province

| subdivision_type2 = District

| subdivision_name2 = Rupandehi

| subdivision_type3 = Municipality

| subdivision_name3 = Lumbini Sanskritik

| government_type = Development trust

| governing_body = Lumbini Development Trust

| timezone1 = NST

| utc_offset1 = +05:45

| postal_code_type = Postal code

| postal_code = 32914

| area_code =

| website = {{URL|www.lumbinidevtrust.gov.np}}

| footnotes =

| official_name =

| image_caption = Maya Devi Temple marking the Buddha's birth in Lumbini

}}

{{Infobox UNESCO World Heritage Site

| WHS = Lumbini, the Birthplace of the Lord Buddha

| Image =

| image_size =

| Location = Rupandehi District, Nepal

| Criteria = Cultural: iii, vi

| ID = 666

| Year = 1997

| Area = 198.95 ha

| Buffer_zone = 22.78 ha

| locmapin =

| coordinates = {{coord|27|28|53|N|83|16|33|E|display=title}}

| map_caption = Location in Nepal

}}

File:BRP Lumbini Ashoka pillar.jpg of Lumbini]]

File:Lumbini pillar Medieval inscription.jpg: "Om Mani Padme Hum Sri Ripu Malla Chiram Jayatu 1234 Saka Era" ("May Prince Ripu Malla be long victorious")]]

Lumbinī ({{IPA|ne|ˈlumbini|pron|Lumbini audio.ogg}}, "the lovely") is a Buddhist pilgrimage site in the Rupandehi District of Lumbini Province in Nepal. The Buddhist commentaries state that Maya Devi gave birth to Siddhartha Gautama in Lumbini around 624 BCE.{{efn|Joshua Mark, "World History Encyclopaedia", 2020: ''The dates of the Buddha's life have been derived from various chronologies, all of which acknowledge that Siddhartha Gautama lived for 80 years but disagree on the dates those 80 years encompass. The chronologies are as follows:

1.) Sri Lanka's Long Chronology: {{circa|624}} - {{circa|544}} BCE (The Convention)

2.) Alternative Long Chronology: {{circa|567}} - {{circa|487}} BCE

3.) India's Short Chronology: {{circa|448}} - {{circa|368}} BCE

4.) Contemporary Chronology: {{circa|563}} - {{circa|483}} BCE}}{{Cite web|url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/news/180/|title=World Heritage Committee Inscribes 46 New Sites on World Heritage List|first=UNESCO World Heritage|last=Centre|website=UNESCO World Heritage Centre}}{{cite web|url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/666|title=Lumbini, the Birthplace of the Lord Buddha|publisher=UNESCO|access-date=1 March 2011}} Gautama is believed to have achieved Enlightenment in Bodh Gaya, India and became the Buddha who founded Buddhism.{{cite web|url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/666/|title=Lumbini, the Birthplace of the Lord Buddha – UNESCO World Heritage Centre|publisher=Whc.unesco.org|access-date=19 August 2013}}{{cite journal|title="Gautama Buddha (B.C. 623-543)" by T.W. Rhys-Davids, The World's Great Events, B.C. 4004-A.D. 70 (1908) by Esther Singleton, pp. 124–35}}{{cite web|url=http://www.booksie.com/religion_and_spirituality/article/myoma_myint_kywe/the-buddha-%28bc-623bc-543%29|title=The Buddha (BC 623-BC 543) – Religion and spirituality Article – Buddha, Bc, 623|publisher=Booksie|date=8 July 2012|access-date=19 August 2013}} It is claimed that he died and passed into parinirvana at the age of 80 years, in c.544 BCE.{{cite journal |last=Cousins |first=LS |author-link=L. S. Cousins |title=The Dating of the Historical Buddha: A Review Article |journal=Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society |volume=6 |issue=1 |pages=57–63 |year=1996 |doi=10.1017/s1356186300014760 |jstor=25183119 |s2cid=162929573 |url=http://indology.info/papers/cousins/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101220043745/http://indology.info/papers/cousins/ |archive-date=20 December 2010 |url-access=subscription }}{{cite book|last=Schumann|first=Hans Wolfgang|title=The Historical Buddha: The Times, Life, and Teachings of the Founder of Buddhism|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Press|year=2003|pages=10–13|isbn=8120818172}} Lumbini is one of the four most sacred pilgrimage sites pivotal in the life of the Buddha."The Eight Great Sacred Sites", Nekhor: Circling the Sacred, Samye Translations.

Lumbini has several old temples, including the Mayadevi Temple, as well as several new temples built by Buddhist organisations from around the world. The majority of the temples have already been completed, with some still under construction. Many monuments, monasteries, stupas, a museum, and the Lumbini International Research Institute are located near the holy site. The Puskarini, or Holy Pond, is where Mayadevi, the Buddha's mother, is said to have taken the ritual bath before his birth, and where the Buddha himself took his first bath. Earlier Buddhas were born near Lumbini, attained ultimate Enlightenment, and eventually abandoned their earthly forms.

Lumbini was made a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1997.{{refn|group=note|name="lumbini_location"|Buddhist scriptures and travel accounts of Chinese monks, Faxian and Xuanzang, describe relative location of cities Lumbini, Sravasti, Kapilavastu and Rajgir. Based on these data, recent work. {{cite journal |last1=Mishra |first1=Ramakanta |date=December 2021 |title=Location of Kapilavastu: Resolving Contradictory Descriptions found in Buddhist Scriptures |journal=Journal of the U.S. Sangha for Buddhist Studies |url=https://www.jbspress.com/publications-1-issue |volume=02 |issue=2 |pages=64–76 |issn=2692-7357}} has used geometric methods to determine Lumbini's location. According to the findings, Kapilavastu and Lumbini are south of Rajgir. South Koshala, one of two historical Kosalas, was located south of Rajgir. The results reject North Kosala as Gautama Buddha's native country.}}

In Buddha's time

In the time of the Buddha, Lumbini was situated east of Kapilavastu and southwest of Devadaha of Shakya, an oligarchic republic.{{Cite web|url=http://lumbini.planetwebnepal.com/?page_id=475|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117104444/http://lumbini.planetwebnepal.com/?page_id=475|url-status=usurped|archive-date=17 November 2015|title=Ramagrama-Devadaha |date=2013|website=lumbini.planetwebnepal.com|publisher=Lumbini Development Trust|access-date=2016-09-29}}{{cite web|url=https://www.worldhistory.org/Kapilavastu/|title=Kapilavastu|last=Violatti|first=Cristian|date=12 December 2013|website=World History Encyclopedia|access-date=29 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160814122252/http://www.ancient.eu/Kapilavastu/|archive-date=14 August 2016|url-status=dead}} According to the Buddhist tradition, it was there that the Buddha was born.J.i.52, 54; Kvu.97, 559; AA.i.10; MA.ii.924; BuA.227; Cv.li.10, etc. Ashoka Pillar of Lumbini, a monolithic column with an inscription in the ancient Brahmi script discovered at Rupandehi in 1896, is believed to mark the spot of Ashoka's visit to Lumbini. The site was not known as Lumbini before the pillar was discovered.{{cite book |last=Sen |first=A. C. |title=Buddhist shrines in India |publisher=Maha Bodhi Book Agency |year=2008 |isbn=978-81-87032-78-6 |location=Kolkota |page=24}} The translation of the inscription (by Paranavitana) reads:

{{quote|When King Devanampriya Priyadarsin had been anointed twenty years, he came himself and worshipped (this spot) because the Buddha Shakyamuni was born here. (He) both caused to be made a stone bearing a horse and caused a stone pillar to be set up, (to show) that the Blessed One was born here. (He) made the village of Lumbini free of taxes, and paying (only) an eighth share (of the produce).See Mukerji: Asoka, p. 27; see p. 201f for details.Paranavitana, S. (April–June 1962). "Rupandehi Pillar Inscription of Asoka", Journal of the American Oriental Society, 82 (2), 163–167{{refn|group=note|name="translations"|Several alternative translations have been published.{{cite web |last = Weise |first = Kai |title = The Sacred Garden of Lumbini – Perceptions of Buddha's Birthplace |date = 2013|pages= 47–48|publisher = UNESCO |location= Paris |archive-date = 2014-08-30 |url = http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0022/002239/223986E.pdf |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140830011700/http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0022/002239/223986E.pdf |display-authors = etal}}Hultzsch, E. (1925). [https://archive.org/details/InscriptionsOfAsoka.NewEditionByE.Hultzsch Inscriptions of Asoka]. Oxford: Clarendon Press, pp. 164-165}}

}}

The park was previously known as Rupandehi, {{convert|2|mi|abbr=on}} north of Bhagavanpura. The Sutta Nipáta (vs. 683) states that the Buddha was born in a village of the Sákyans in the Lumbineyya Janapada. The Buddha stayed in Lumbinívana during his visit to Devadaha and there preached the Devadaha Sutta.MA.ii.810

Pillar of Ashoka

In 1896, former Commander-In-Chief of the Nepalese Army General Khadga Shamsher Jang Bahadur Rana and Alois Anton Führer discovered a great stone pillar at Rupandehi, according to the crucial historical records made by the ancient Chinese monk-pilgrim Xuanzang in the 7th century CE and by another ancient Chinese monk-pilgrim Faxian in the early 5th century CE. The Brahmi inscription on the pillar gives evidence that Ashoka, emperor of the Maurya Empire, visited the place in 3rd century BCE and identified it as the birthplace of the Buddha.

At the top of the pillar, there is a second inscription by King Ripumalla (1234 Saka Era, 13-14th century CE), who is also known from an inscription at the Nigali Sagar pillar:

{{blockquote|Om mani padme hum May Prince Ripu Malla be long victorious 1234|Inscription of King Ripumalla on the Lumbini pillar of Ashoka, 1234 Saka Era (13–14th century).Le Huu Phuoc, Buddhist Architecture, p.269|source=}}

A second pillar of Ashoka is located about 22 kilometers to the northwest of Lumbini, the Nigali Sagar pillar (with inscription), and a third one 24 kilometers to the west, the Gotihawa pillar (without inscription).

Lumbini complex

File:Lumbini Buddhist pilgrimage IMG 0678 18.jpg in Lumbini]]

Lumbini is {{convert|4.8|km|0|abbr=on}} in length and {{convert|1.6|km|1|abbr=on}} in width. The holy site of Lumbini is bordered by a large monastic zone in which only monasteries can be built, no shops, hotels or restaurants. It is separated into an eastern and western monastic zone, the eastern having the Theravadin monasteries, the western having Mahayana and Vajrayana monasteries. There is a long water-filled canal separating the western and eastern zones, with a series of brick arch bridges joining the two sides along the length. The canal is serviced by simple outboard motor boats at the north end which provide tours. The holy site of Lumbini has ruins of ancient monasteries, a sacred Bodhi tree, an ancient bathing pond, the Ashokan pillar and the Mayadevi Temple, a site traditionally considered to be the birthplace of the Buddha. From early morning to early evening, pilgrims from various countries perform chanting and meditation at the site.

File:Nepal DSCN2126a.jpg|Ancient ruins at Lumbini

File:Lumbini, Buddhist pilgrims 2, Tree, Nepal.jpg|Bodhi tree

File:Mayadevi Temple and ruins of ancient monasteries in Lumbini 03.jpg|Mayadevi Temple and ruins of ancient monasteries

Lumbini complex is divided into three areas: the Sacred Garden, the Monastic Zone and the Cultural Center and New Lumbini Village. The Sacred Garden remains the epicenter of the Lumbini area and consists of the birthplace of Buddha and other monuments of archaeological and spiritual importance such as the Mayadevi Temple, the Ashoka Pillar, the Marker Stone, the Nativity Sculpture, Puskarini Sacred Pond and other structural ruins of Buddhist stupas and viharas. The Monastic Zone, spanning an area of one square mile is divided into two zones: the East Monastic Zone which represents the Theravada school of Buddhism and the West Monastic Zone which represents the Mahayana and Vajrayana schools of Buddhism, with their respective monasteries on the either side of a long pedestrian walkway and canal. Marking the monastic spot as a sacred pilgrimage site, many countries have established Buddhist stupas and monasteries in the monastic zone with their unique historical, cultural and spiritual designs. The Cultural Center and New Lumbini Village comprises the Lumbini Museum, Lumbini International Research Institute, World Peace Pagoda of Japan, Lumbini Crane Sanctuary and other administrative offices.{{Cite web|publisher=Lumbini Development Trust |title=Birthplace of Buddha, Historical Place of Nepal, The World Heritage SiteLumbini Development Trust|url=http://lumbinidevtrust.gov.np/en/lumbini/content/19|access-date=2022-01-28|website=lumbinidevtrust.gov.np}} The Government of Bangladesh is currently{{timeframe|date=October 2024}} constructing a major Buddhist monastery in Lumbini.{{Cite web |date=2021-10-08 |title=Bangladesh to construct Buddhist Monastery in Nepal's Lumbini |url=https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/bangladesh-construct-buddhist-monastery-nepals-lumbini-313219 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20221114002908/https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/bangladesh-construct-buddhist-monastery-nepals-lumbini-313219 |archive-date=2022-11-14 |access-date=2022-11-14 |website=The Business Standard}}

File:Nepal Temple.JPG|Nepalese Temple

File:Lumbini-44-indischer Tempel-2013-gje.jpg|Indian Temple

File:Shanti stupa, World Peace Pagoda, Lumbini.jpg|Japanese Stupa

File:Royal Thai Monastery, Lumbini.jpg|Royal Thailand Monastery

File:Zhong Hua Chinese Buddhist Monastery, Lumbini, Nepal.jpg|Chinese Monastery

File:German Buddhist Temple (9105852247).jpg|German Monastery

File:French monastery.jpg|French Monastery

File:2015-03-16 Lumbini（Sri Lanka temple）ルンビニ・スリランカ寺 DSCF1296.jpg|Sri Lankan Temple

File:Stupa in Lumbini.jpg|South Korean Temple

File:2015-03-16 Lumbini（Cambodian Monastery）ルンビニ・カンボジア寺 DSCF1438.jpg|Cambodian Monastery

File:Austrian monastery 2.jpg|Austrian Monastery

File:Singapore monstery.jpg|Singapore Monastery

File:Temple By Canada.jpg|Canadian Temple

File:Vietnamese Temple (Phat Quoc Tu) in Lumbini, Nepal 2019-04-09.jpg|Vietnamese Temple

File:Urgen Dorjee Choling Buddhist Centre, Lumbini, Nepal.jpg|Urgen Dorjee Choling Centre

File:The Golden Temple in Lumbini.jpg|Golden Temple of Myanmar

File:Construction of "Russian" Buddhist Monestery at Lumbini the birthplace of the Lord Buddha.jpg|Russian Monastery (under construction, April 2024)

Religious significance

File:Lumbini 1.jpg's birth at Mayadevi Temple]]

Before parinirvana at the age of eighty, Gautama Buddha gave a sermon to his disciples on the significance of Lumbini as a place of pilgrimage (Dīghanikāya, 16; Mahāparinibbāṇa Sutta):{{Cite book |url=https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000223986 |title=The Sacred garden of Lumbini |publisher=UNESCO |year=2019 |isbn=978-92-3-001208-3 |access-date=2024-04-09}}

{{Quote |There are O monks, four places on earth which a believing householder's son or a believing householder's daughter should commemorate as long as they live. Which are those four? –here the Venerable One has been born –here the Venerable One has attained the unsurpassable complete enlightenment –here the Venerable One has turned the threefold-turning, twelve-spoked lawful wheel – here the Venerable One has gone to the realm of complete nirvāṇa.|Dīgha Nikāya, 16; Mahāparinibbāṇa Sutta

}}

Along with Lumbini, which is the Buddha's place of birth, Bodh Gaya where he attained enlightenment, Sarnath where he gave his first sermon and Kushinagar where he attained parinirvana are the four most significant pilgrimage sites in Buddhism. These four places form a pilgrimage circuit along Buddha's Holy Sites.

Excavation at the Mayadevi Temple in 2013

File:"May Peace Prevail on Earth" sign in front gate of Lumbini Nepal.jpg

New excavations in the Mayadevi temple in Lumbini in 2013 revealed a series of the most ancient Buddhist shrines in South Asia extending the history of the site to a much earlier date.{{Cite web |title=Earliest Buddhist shrines in South Asia discovered in Lumbini, Buddha's birthplace in Nepal |url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1053/ |access-date=2023-06-30 |website=UNESCO World Heritage Centre |language=en}} According to Robin Coningham, excavations beneath existing brick structures at the Mayadevi Temple at Lumbini provide evidence for an older timber structure beneath the walls of a brick Buddhist shrine built during the Ashokan era (3rd-century BCE). The layout of the Ashokan shrine closely follows that of the earlier timber structure, which suggests a continuity of worship at the site. The pre-Mauryan timber structure appears to be an ancient tree shrine. Radiocarbon dating of charcoal from the wooden postholes and optically stimulated luminescence dating of elements in the soil suggests human activity began at Lumbini around 1000 BCE.{{cite journal |last1=Coningham |first1=R. A. E. |last2=Acharya |first2=K. P. |last3=Strickland |first3=K. M. |last4=Davis |first4=C. E. |last5=Manuel |first5=M. J. |last6=Simpson |first6=I. A. |last7=Gilliland |first7=K. |last8=Tremblay |first8=J. |last9=Kinnaird |first9=T. C. |last10=Sanderson |first10=D. C. W. |year=2013 |title=The earliest Buddhist shrine: excavating the birthplace of the Buddha, Lumbini (Nepal) |journal=Antiquity |volume=87 |issue=338 |pages=1104–23 |doi=10.1017/s0003598x00049899 |s2cid=54601247 |doi-access=free}} The site, states Coningham, may be a Buddhist monument from 6th century BCE. Other scholars state that the excavations revealed nothing that is Buddhist, and they only confirm that the site predates the Buddha.Richard Gombrich (2013), [https://ocbs.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/rfg1213.pdf "Pseudo-discoveries at Lumbini"], Oxford Center for Buddhist Studies, Oxford University{{cite book |last=Fogelin |first=Lars |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tRV0BgAAQBAJ |title=An Archaeological History of Indian Buddhism |date=2 March 2015 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-994822-2}}

Other developments

File:Antonio Guterres speech in Lumbini, 2023.jpg, secretary-general of the United Nations speaking in Lumbini on his Nepal visit (2023)]]

File:PM in a Bilateral Meeting with the Prime Minister of Nepal, Mr. Sher Bahadur Deuba, in Lumbini, Nepal on May 16, 2022.jpg with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Lumbini on Buddha Purnima ]]

Nepal's central bank has introduced a 100-rupee Nepali note featuring Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha. The Nepal Rastra Bank said the new note would be accessible only during the Dashain, Nepal's major festival in the time of September/October. It displays the portrait of Mayadevi, Gautam Buddha's mother in silver metallic on the front. The note also has a black dot which would help the blind recognise the note. The name of the central bank in Roman script would be printed on the note along with the date of printing in both the Gregorian Era and the Bikram Era.{{Citation needed|date=May 2025}} The new note is being issued following a cabinet decision on 27 August.{{Cite web|url=http://www.indistannews.com/buddhas-birthplace-in-nepals-100-rupee-note/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202224201/http://www.indistannews.com/buddhas-birthplace-in-nepals-100-rupee-note/|url-status=dead|title=Buddha's birthplace in Nepal's 100-rupee note – Indistan News – National, Political and States News|archivedate=2 December 2013}}

Nipponzan Myohoji decided to build a Peace Pagoda in the park in 2001, which is visited by many different cultures and religions every day. Because some Hindus regard the Buddha as an incarnation of Vishnu, thousands of Hindus have begun to come here on pilgrimage during the full moon of the Nepali month of Baisakh (April–May) to worship Queen Mayadevi as Rupa Devi, the mother goddess of Lumbini. Lumbini was granted World Heritage status by UNESCO in 1997.

In 2011, the Lumbini Development National Director Committee was formed under the leadership of Prime Minister Prachanda. The committee was given the authority to "draft a master plan to develop Lumbini as a peaceful and tourism area and table the proposal" and the responsibility to gather international support for the same.{{cite web |title=Lumbini Development Committee formed under Dahal's leadership |url=http://www.ekantipur.com/2011/10/17/top-story/lumbini-development-committee-formed-under-dahals-leadership/342357.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111221070828/http://www.ekantipur.com/2011/10/17/top-story/lumbini-development-committee-formed-under-dahals-leadership/342357.html |archive-date=21 December 2011 |access-date=17 October 2011 |publisher=ekantipur}}

In 2022 on Buddha's Birthday, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Nepalese Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, jointly laid the foundation stone for the Indian monastery in Lumbini.{{Cite web |title=Lumbini Development Trust- Birthplace of Buddha, Historical Place of Nepal, The World Heritage SiteLumbini Development Trust |url=https://lumbinidevtrust.gov.np/en/home/news/details/291 |access-date=2024-04-03 |website=lumbinidevtrust.gov.np}} Nepal-India cultural events are held annually in Lumbini highlighting the close spiritual and cultural connection between the two countries.{{Cite web |last=Republica |title=Nepal-India cultural festival held in Lumbini |url=http://myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com/news/149049/ |access-date=2024-04-03 |website=My Republica |language=en}} António Guterres, secretary-general of the United Nations visited to Lumbini in October of 2023 and "urged everyone to reflect on the core teachings of Buddhism and their relevance in today’s troubled world ", highlighting conflicts around the world from Middle East to Ukraine to Africa, undermining of global rules and their devastating impacts on ordinary people, especially women and children.{{Cite web |date=2023-10-31 |title=On sacred ground in Nepal, UN chief calls for global action for peace {{!}} UN News |url=https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/10/1143047 |access-date=2024-10-09 |website=news.un.org |language=en}}

Tourism

In 2019, Lumbini received 1.5 million tourists from around the world.{{Cite web|last=Sansar|first=Nepali|date=2020-01-06|title=Lumbini Tourist Arrivals Reach 1.5 Million in 2019|url=https://www.nepalisansar.com/tourism/lumbini-tourist-arrivals-reach-1-5-million-in-2019/|access-date=2022-01-28|website=Nepali Sansar|language=en-US}}

=Transport=

Lumbini is a 10-hour drive from Kathmandu and a 30-minute drive from Bhairahawa. The closest airport is Gautam Buddha Airport at Bhairahawa, with flights to and from Kathmandu.{{cite web|url=http://welcomenepal.com/promotional/tourist-destination/lumbini/|title=Lumbini|publisher=Welcome Nepal|access-date=19 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130817184319/http://welcomenepal.com/promotional/tourist-destination/lumbini/|archive-date=17 August 2013|url-status=usurped}}

=Places to visit=

Maya Devi Temple
World Peace Pagoda, Lumbini
Ashoka Pillar of Lumbini
Lumbini Crane Sanctuary{{Cite web|url=https://www.buddha-statues.info/|title=Things to do in Lumbini - birthplace of Buddha | Buddha Statues|website=www.buddha-statues.info}}

=New hotel construction=

The nearest airport to Lumbini, Gautam Buddha Airport in Bhairahawa, is currently{{timeframe|date=October 2024}} undergoing expansion. This small domestic airport is soon expected to become an international airport, with the latest deadline set for 2019

. The airport expansion attracted investors and hoteliers, and a series of new hotels are being constructed in and around Lumbini, hoping to cash in on the expected international tourist boom once the airport expansion work is completed.{{Cite news|url=http://kathmandupost.ekantipur.com/news/2018-04-12/airport-construction-triggers-hotel-boom-in-rupandehi.html|title=Airport construction triggers hotel boom in Rupandehi|access-date=2018-07-11|language=en}}

Sister cities

Lumbini has four official sister cities:

{{flagicon|India}} Kushinagar, India (2022){{cite web | url=https://zeenews.india.com/india/india-nepal-agree-to-establish-sister-city-relations-between-lumbini-and-kushinagar-check-details-of-mous-signed-today-2464090.html | title=India-Nepal agree to establish sister-city relations between Lumbini and Kushinagar; check details of MoUs signed today }}
{{flagicon|India}} Bodh Gaya, India{{cite web |title=MoU on Twinning arrangements between Kathmandu-Varanasi, Janakpur-Ayodhya and Lumbini-Bodh Gaya as sister cities |url=https://mea.gov.in/media-advisory.htm?dtl/24322/Outcomes+during+the+visit+of+Prime+Minister+to+Nepal+November+2527+2014 |website=mea.gov.in |access-date=8 March 2020}}
{{flagicon|Spain}} Cáceres, Spain{{cite web |title=Cáceres y Lumbini Rubrican su Hermanamiento en un 'Día Histórico' |date=8 April 2021 |url=https://www.ayto-caceres.es/noticias/caceres-y-lumbini-rubrican-su-hermanamiento-en-un-dia-historico/ |access-date=8 April 2021 |website=Cáceres City Council |lang=es |trans-title=Cáceres and Lumbini Sign their Twinning on a 'Historic Day'}}
{{Flagicon|Japan}} Kōya, Japan{{Cite web |title=Lumbini Development Trust- Birthplace of Buddha, Historical Place of Nepal, The World Heritage SiteLumbini Development Trust |url=https://lumbinidevtrust.gov.np/en/home/news/details/51 |access-date=2023-07-01 |website=lumbinidevtrust.gov.np}}

Notes

References

Bibliography

{{Citation |last = Weise |first = Kai |title = The Sacred Garden of Lumbini – Perceptions of Buddha's Birthplace |date = 2013 |publisher = UNESCO |location= Paris |archive-date = 2014-08-30 |url = http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0022/002239/223986E.pdf |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140830011700/http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0022/002239/223986E.pdf |display-authors = etal}}

External links

[https://web.archive.org/web/20150912072331/http://www.lumkap.org.uk/ Lumbini On Trial: The Untold Story]
{{Wikivoyage inline}}
[http://www.dmoz.org/search?q=Lumbini Lumbini at the Open Directory Project]
[https://www.worldheritagesite.org/list/Lumbini Lumbini at WorldHeritageSite.org Listing]

Category:Buddhist pilgrimage sites in Nepal

Category:Populated places in Rupandehi District

Category:World Heritage Sites in Nepal

Category:Rupandehi District

Category:Buddhist archaeological sites

Category:Archaeological sites in Nepal

Category:Cultural heritage of Nepal