Lumbini

Lumbini, the birth place of Lord Gautam Buddha. It is a Buddhist pilgrimage site in the Rupandehi district of Nepal It is largely regarded as the place where Queen Mayadevi gave birth to Siddhartha Gautama, although the exact birthplace is in controversy. Siddhartha Gautama lived roughly between 623 and 543 BC founded Buddism. Lumbini is one of four magnets for pilgrimage that sprang up in places pivotal to the life of the Buddha, the others being at Kushinagar, Bodh Gaya and Sarnath.

Lumbini was where the Buddha lived until the age of 29. Lumbini has a number of temples, including the Mayadevi temple, and others under construction. Also located here is the Puskarini or Holy Pond where the Buddha's mother took the ritual dip prior to his birth and where he, too, had his first bath, as well as the remains of Kapilvastu palace. At other sites near Lumbini, earlier Buddhas were, according to tradition, born, achieved ultimate enlightment and finally relinquished earthly form.