Lumbini

“Beneath the shade of the ashoka tree, the first place a life came into the world”

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Photo: Ricky Partel · CC BY-SA 4.0

Scenes

Meaning

Between the pond and the shade of the bodhi tree the white temple sits low, and pilgrims' prayer flags ripple in the wind.

Buddhist accounts hold that the Buddha was born in this garden, one of the four great places of pilgrimage. A pillar said to have been raised by Emperor Ashoka marks the spot.

Field notes

Location: Lumbini · Nepal · N27.5° · E83.3°
Best time: The cool months of autumn and winter; early morning at the Maya Devi Temple
Getting there: About thirty minutes by car from Bhairahawa and its airport.
Etiquette: Within the sacred garden, quiet, bare feet, and the marked pilgrim paths are honored.

Sources

· UNESCO World Heritage
· Encyclopaedia Britannica

UNESCO World Heritage Wikipedia

Photographs are freely licensed works from Wikimedia Commons and similar sources; the author and license appear beneath each image.