Lumbini: The Birth
- Location: Lumbini, Nepal
- Best Time: October to March
- How to Reach: 13 km from Gautam Buddha International Airport
- Sightseeing: Maya Devi Temple, Ashoka Pillar, Lumbini Garden
Lumbini, a revered pilgrimage site in Nepal, is said to be the birthplace of Buddha. Here, Queen Mayadevi gave birth to Siddhartha Gautama in 563 BCE. Lumbini attained Unesco World Heritage status in 1997. There are a number of temples here, including the Maya Devi Temple; monuments, monastries and a museum (Lumbini International Research Institute); the Puskarini or Holy Pond where Buddha’s mother took the ritual dip before his birth, and where he too had his first bath.
