About Lumbini Tour:
Lumbini Tour is the popular and best way to visit Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha. The Lumbini is one of the ten world sites for religious pilgrimage and the sole source of world one of the major religions-Buddhism and the source of world peace and prosperity. Lumbini is the centre of holy faith for millions of Buddhists all over the world. Located in southwestern Nepal, Lumbini holds several reminders of Lord Buddha. One of the most important historical sites in Nepal is endowed by nature with rich natural beauty. It is situated 230 km away from Kathmandu in the Rubandehi District of Southern Terai (lowland), at an altitude of 600 ft. above sea level. Lumbini is respected by all Buddhists. In 1998, Lumbini was declared the Fountain of World Peace and the pilgrimage for all the peace-loving people of the world.
Some important places on the Lumbini Tour are:
- The Lumbini Garden: This is the site marked by a certain stone pillar erected by the Indian Emperor Ashoka in about 245 B.C. The most important discovery in this place is a stone marked to suggest the exact birthplace of Buddha.
- Mayadevi Temple: This temple, dedicated to the mother of lord Buddha- Maya Devi, was excavated a few years ago. Many sculptures and carvings in which the figures and designs are only slightly projecting from their background are seen here.
- Pushkarni pond: This is the pond where Mayadevi is said to have had a bath before giving birth to Buddha.
- Ramagram: It is believed to be the maternal home of Buddha. This is where we can see the biggest stupa, with important relics. It is said that it was built around 600 B.C.
- Lumbini has many new monasteries occupied by different nations. Some notable ones are:
- The Myanmar temple was built with the contribution of Burmese Buddhists. The monastery is an attractive big white structural monument with a golden pinnacle soaring into the sky.
- The China temple is a very beautiful pagoda-styled temple with many prayer and meditation cells.
- The Korean Temple is a beautifully set temple having many remarkable images of Buddha.
Besides these, there are others like the Nepal Buddha Temple and the Dharmaswami Buddhist monastery. Other countries like Japan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam, etc. are also contributing to building more temples and monasteries from different countries.
Lumbini Tour is to visit the Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha. Lumbini Tour is one of the most popular destinations in the world with over one million Buddhists, It does not mean it is only popular for Buddhist religious people but also popular for any individual searching for peace and serenity in life. Lumbini is located in southwestern Nepal, in the Terai (plain-land) which is approximately 300 km away from Kathmandu.
Itinerary
Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu:
You will be picked up at the airport by one of the Tour and Trekking Nepal staff and driven to your Kathmandu host family or a hotel. Here you will be welcomed into the family, be given your own room and be provided with all your meals while in Kathmandu. This will be your home during your orientation and volunteering in Nepal. With easy bus routes into town and the surrounding countryside, this quiet and safe suburb is the perfect base for your time in Nepal. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day 02: Sightseeing in Kathmandu:
We tour Durbar Square, Pashupatinath temple, Swayambhunath stupa and Bouddhanath stupa which are all world heritage sites. The Durbar Square sheds light on the life of the royals in ancient times. Pashupatinath temple is one of the most important places of pilgrimage for all Hindus. Swayambhunath is also known as the Monkey Temple and Baudhanath Stupa is one of the largest stupas in the world. At noon, we are introduced to our fellow participants and discuss our trip at the Tour and Trekking Nepal office. Overnight in Kathmandu. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day 03: Drive from Kathmandu to Lumbini:
We drive to Lumbini today, south-west from Kathmandu which takes about 7-8 hours, We say adieu to the ancient valley, and head toward the flatlands of Nepal’s teeming Terai, Generally, the weather gets hot and humid in the plains except in the winter. Lumbini is the most important Buddhist pilgrimage site – the place where Buddha was born. In case we reach Lumbini around sunset time, we can stroll around in the local market to have a glimpse of local lifestyles hereabouts. Overnight stay at Lumbini.
Day 04: A full-day sightseeing tour in Lumbini:
Lumbini is one of the world’s major religious, architectural, and historical places. We devote today’s time to visiting as many places and sites in Lumbini as possible. The place is really a big area with monuments, temples, and ancient sites making it a UNESCO World Heritage Site. First, we visit the Mayadevi temple which is built on the exact place where Buddha was born. We spent some time wandering around the gardens. We also visit the museum and Peace Pagoda. Some of the important landmarks and monuments in Lumbini include Ashoka’s Pillar erected by Emperor Ashoka (249 BC) on the spot of Buddha’s birth which also has the oldest inscription in Nepal. There are many Buddhist Temples founded by devotees from different countries: Tibetan, Chinese, Japanese Burmese, Korean etc. Overnight stay at Lumbini.
Day 05: Drive back to Kathmandu:
We are nearing the end of our Buddhist Cultural Tour. We head back toward Kathmandu today – about a 300-kilometre journey into the winding mountain road. The journey would take about 6-7 hours. Upon arrival in Kathmandu, you will be transferred to your hotel. There is nothing to do but trade emails with travel companions and organize the photos. To celebrate the successful completion of our journey, we will have a farewell dinner at The Ship Restaurant Bar & Lounge where we can pick our meal from their carefully crafted menu that offers a wide range of choices. Overnight stay at Kathmandu.
Day 06: Farewell friend and departure/Fly back home:
Our journey in Nepal comes to an end today! A Tour and Trekking Nepal representative will drop us off at the airport approximately 3 hours before our scheduled flight. On our way to home, we have plenty of time to plan our next adventure in the wonderful country of Nepal.
Service Included
- Pickups and drops from hotels and airports
- All transportation till to end
- English-speaking, trained and experienced local tour guide (optional)
- Welcome and farewell dinners
- Heritage site entrance fees
- All government and local taxes
Service Excluded
- International airfares/ airport taxes
- Travel Insurance
- Nepal entry visa fees
- Drinks hot and cold.
- Bottled drinks on trek (cold and alcoholic)
- Lunches and dinners in Kathmandu
- Tips(Tipping are expected)
Note: The above-mentioned program itinerary is a sample. The period and cost of tour, trekking, volunteering or internship can be changed or extended as per travellers or volunteers' availability of duration.
