Maya Devi Mandir

Views:

Maya Devi Mandir, Taulihawa Rd, 32800, Nepal. Edit

Detail InformationEdit

The Maya Devi temple is said to be the exact place where Shakya Prince Siddharta Gautama, better known as the Lord Buddha was born. There are drawings depicting his birth inside. The current whitewashed temple was built to protect the older temple under it. This is older temple was probably built over a Ashokan stupa. Inside it’s no more than mud bricks. There’s a small area looking down into dug out area where it’s alleged Buddha was born. There’s a small glass panel with some faded painting’ Outside things get a little more interesting again.

Maya Devi Mandir

HistoryEdit

Maya Devi Mandir, shrine is “the earliest Buddhist shrine in the world”, according to Coningham. In November 2013, an international team of archaeologists digging under the temple discovered the remains of an ancient tree shrine dated before 550 BCE, which is possibly the earliest evidence of Buddhist structures ever found and possibly the first archaeological evidence of Gautama Buddha’s life. The excavation was headed by Robin Coningham of Durham University, UK, and Kosh Prasad Acharya of the Pashupati Area Development Trust, Nepal.

Must SeeEdit

Popular

Visiting TimeEdit

6 am – 6 pm

Closed OnEdit

N.A.

Best Season to VisitEdit

October to March.

Best Time To VisitEdit

Morning, Afternoon, Evening.

Time Required for SightseeingEdit

Minimum 30 minutes.

Ticket Required : No Edit

Individual National Adult Rs. : N.A.

Kids Rs. : N.A.

Individual Foreigner Adult Rs. : N.A.

Kids Rs. : N.A.

Still Photo Camera Rs. : N.A.

Video Camera Rs. : N.A.

Guide Required : No Edit

Approximate cost: N.A.

Dress Code (If Any) : No Edit

Dress Require: N.A.

Restaurants NearbyAdd / Edit

Maitri Restaurant ; Buddha Nagar, Hotel Anamda Inn, Lumbini, Nepal. ; Ph/M – 977 71-580324 ; Food Serve – Continental Cuisines

How to ReachEdit

Taxi : Taxis are probably the best option for reaching Lumbini from Sunauli.

Bus : Buses ply the route between Sunauli and Lumbini. At Lumbini alight at the main gate. Alternatively, from the Nepal side of the border one can take a shared jeep to Bhairahawa (4 kilometers) followed by a bus to Lumbini. Bhairahawa Lumbini buses depart every 15 minutes. The last return bus departs at 5 PM. Buses also run from Kathmandu, Pokhara, Gorakhpur and Varanasi to Sunauli. Gorakhpur to Sunauli state transport buses are reasonably frequent.

Train : The closest railway station to lumbini is at Nautanwa, but passenger trains are infrequent on this line. Nearest railway station is at Gorakhpur in India. It is 122 km from Lumbini. The alternative of taxi travel from the border crossing at Sunauli to Gorakhpur takes about two hours. From Sunauli, Siddharthanagar is only 3.5 kilometers. The Mahaparinirvan Express tourist train stops in Gorakhpur where tourists continue to Lumbini by road.

Air : Nearest airport to Lumbini is at Bhairahawa also known as Sidhhartha Nagar, it is about 22km from lumbini, where there are flights to and from Kathmandu. Other airports serving more destinations include Gorakhpur and Faizabad in India.

Others : Sights in Lumbini are way across, bicycles and cycle rickshaws provide a good way to get around. Bicycles will be rented at hotels in Lumbini at Rs. 100 per day, also as the Korean monastery. Bicycles also are available close to the main gate next to the cycle rickshaw stand.

Things to CarryEdit

Carry Camera and Water.

Safety / WarningEdit

Wear approprate clothing that expresses respect for the sacred nature of the site.
Circumambulate the stupas and different sacred objects in a clockwise direction.
Preserve the peace and tranquillity.
Do not climb onto statues or different sacred objects.