That was the time why I don’t know just wanted to visit to Lumbini. So I went to Sundhara and booked a bus ticket to visit Lumbini. And I booked a ticket for the next day. The travel time was a bit early in the morning at 7 am. The ticket was booked without any plan; so I bought little things which I need to bring with me such as prayers flags, incense, and some personal items. That was the first time I traveled to Lumbini with lots of feelings in my mind. Because I was born in a Buddhist family and my family follows Buddhism and Buddhist rituals.
The next day early in the morning me and my wife I went to Sundhara to catch the bus. We were there on time but the bus need to wait for 30 minutes more than their schedule; because a group of people was late and they called in booking counter to wait for them. The wait was over when they arrived therewith in a hustle then the bus left for Lumbini. Along the way also bus stopped a couple of times before crossing the Thankot checklist.
The bus stopped a few times for breakfast, lunch, and pipi break. And after around 10 hours we reached Lumbini. As an unplanned trip to Lumbini, we didn’t book a hotel so first; we look around for a hotel and we found a cheap and good hotel. We got there in the evening so that unable to visit inside the Lumbini. Therefore we walked around the roadside and eat dinner. But the most delicious food we ate was Pani Puri, usually, I don’t like it but that time I ate some.
The next day we woke up early in the morning and took a hot shower and then went into the Temple area. First, we went to Maya Devi Temple and visit the shrines nearby the Temple. Hung the prayers flag and burnt the incense and pray for good health and wealth for everyone in this universe. Indies the Lumbini development zone there are a lot of monasteries, stupas, and Bihar built by different nations and communities. We visited all of them and that took a full day.
While we were visiting the Lumbini, I met a man and he told me about the Kapilvastu. Kapilvastu is the place where Shidharatha Gautam spent his childhood and adult life. And I felt we need to go there too so I booked a taxi and drove there. When we reached there we met a local guide and he guided us and show a lots of historical monuments. As well as giving us detailed information about that place. Which was really awesome and informative Thank you dear guide but I forgot his name.
That was my first unplanned visit to Lumbini and since then I visited Lumbini a couple of times. My next visit to Lumbini was during my tourist guide training and then again with my household; every time I go there I always felt very special because here was born the Lord Buddha. During my those visit to Lumbini, the most fascinating places are Maya Devi Temple, Lumbini Museum; and Kapilvastu.
There are other many monuments and places to see while a visit to Lumbini. Monuments like Ashoka Piller, World peace Pagoda, Lumbini Crane Sanctuary, and Buddhist Monasteries. And there is a fun part as well where visitors can enjoy the boat ride in the cannon. The recent structure of the Lumbini Development Zone was designed by the Japanese architect Kenzo Tange in 1978.
Lumbini is not only the pilgrimage side of Nepal it’s historically also very important. All the evidence found during the excavation shows that Buddha was born in Lumbini and Lumbini is in Nepal. In history, at different times different people visit Lumbini and they show the enormous Buddhist site there. And the Nepali rulers also visited Lumbini in their time.
Visit the birthplace of the lord Budhha for the Buddhist followers is very special. And that is the same for me as well. Everyone who follows Buddhist culture and tradition once in their life must visit Lumbini and Kapilvastu. Except for Nepal, there are other three must-visite places in India. They are Bouddha Gaya, where Siddhartha got enlightened. Saranath where Buddha gave his first teaching and Kushinagar where Buddha was dead. And I have the wish to visit those three places too in the future.
