The Maya Devi temple and gardens at Lumbini

Lumbini Pilgrimage Tour

The birthplace of the Buddha, and the monasteries around it.

Lumbini is where Queen Maya Devi gave birth to the Buddha, now a UNESCO World Heritage site of gardens, ruins, and a great monastic zone where Buddhist nations from Thailand to Germany have each built a monastery.

It pairs naturally with Chitwan on the way south, or stands alone as a quiet, reflective two or three days away from the mountains.

Highlights

The Maya Devi temple and sacred pond
The international monastic zone
The Ashoka pillar and museum

A typical 3-day shape

One of several ways to do it. We tailor the days, pace, and stops to you, nothing here is fixed.

Day 1By road
Pokhara to Lumbini
A five to six hour drive south to the warm plains and the sacred garden, with an evening to settle in near the monastic zone.
Time
5–6 hours drive
Elevation
150 m
Stay
Hotel, Lumbini
Day 2On foot
The sacred garden
A full day at the Maya Devi temple and the marker of the Buddha's birthplace, the sacred pond and Ashoka pillar, and the monasteries built by nations around the world.
Time
Full day
Elevation
150 m
Stay
Hotel, Lumbini
Day 3By road
Return to Pokhara
A quiet morning at the site or the museum, then the drive back to the lake.
Time
5–6 hours drive
Elevation
150 m
Stay
Back in Pokhara

Getting there

A road transfer of around six hours south to the plains. How you travel it, shared or private, follows the comfort level you choose. A guide and local transport cover the sacred garden.