Lumbini is believed to have been the birthplace of Prince Siddharth, later known as the Buddha, or "the Enlightened One". It is the most important pilgrimage center for Buddhists. Lumbini lies in the foothills of the Himalayas. This ancient town has many stupas and Buddhist temples, built by Buddhist nations from around the world. The old structure on what is believed to be the exact spot where Lord Buddha was born is reputed to have been put up by Emperor Ashoka almost 2000 years ago. Close to Lumbini is Kapilavastu, where the young Lord Siddharth grew up. At Lumbini, you will come across vistors from China, Japan, South East Asia, India and Sri Lanka. The confluence of many architectural influences, the school of Buddhist studies run jointly by the governments of Nepal and Japan, lend an international feel to the city.
The Sacred Garden at Lumbini is spread over a large area. It is home to the Buddhist shrines built by many nations from across the world. So you will find Chinese pagodas, Burmese steeples, and a monastery of the International Gautami nuns. The Ashoka Pillar, located close to the Garden, has inscriptions announcing Emperor Ashoka's edicts. A temple dedicated to Buddha's mother is also located inside the Sacred Gardens. The sacred Pushkarni Pond is also believed to be related to the Buddha's birth.
The Lumbini Museum houses artifacts belonging to the Mauryan and Kushana periods. The Kapilavastu Museum in Kapilavastu has terracotta figurines, coins and manuscripts as old as the 7th century BC.
