Lumbini Buddhist Circuit
Five quiet days at the birthplace of the Buddha, the Maya Devi temple, the monastic zone and Kapilvastu.
- Duration 5 days
- Region Lumbini Province
- From ₹18,999 per person
- Max altitude approx. 1,400 m in Kathmandu
- Group size 2 - 25 travellers
- Best time Oct - Mar
- Pickup Gorakhpur by road, or Kathmandu
Overview
Lumbini is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the four great pilgrimage places of Buddhism. The Maya Devi temple stands over the exact spot identified by the Ashoka pillar, and around it, in a planned monastic zone, thirty countries have built their own monasteries.
The point of this trip is time. Most tours give Lumbini half a day; we give it two, because the sacred garden at dawn, before the buses, is a different place entirely. Kapilvastu, where the Buddha spent his first twenty-nine years, is an easy morning from the same base.
The circuit is flat, low and easy to travel, and pairs naturally with the Indian sites at Kushinagar and Sarnath if you are coming through Gorakhpur.
Destinations covered
- Lumbini
- Kapilvastu
- Kathmandu
Highlights
- Maya Devi Temple The marker stone, the Ashoka pillar and the sacred pond, at first light.
- The monastic zone Thai, Myanmar, German, Chinese and Korean monasteries - an architecture tour in itself.
- The Bodhi tree and prayer flags Where meditation groups sit through the morning under the branches.
- Kapilvastu ruins Tilaurakot, the palace site where Siddhartha grew up, half an hour away.
Day by day itinerary
Day 1 – Arrive Lumbini
Pickup at Gorakhpur or Bhairahawa and transfer to Lumbini. Evening at the sacred garden as the light drops and the chanting starts.
Day 2 – The sacred garden and monastic zone
Maya Devi temple at dawn, then a full day through the eastern and western monasteries with a break in the middle.
Day 3 – Kapilvastu and Ramagrama
Morning at Tilaurakot palace ruins and the museum, afternoon free for meditation or a second visit to the temple.
Day 4 – Travel to Kathmandu
Flight from Bhairahawa or the highway drive north, arriving in time for the evening at Boudhanath.
Day 5 – Kathmandu Buddhist sites and departure
Swayambhunath and the Boudhanath kora in the morning, then the transfer to the airport or the road south.
What is included
- Four nights accommodation on twin or triple sharing
- Daily breakfast and dinner, vegetarian on request
- All transfers and sightseeing in a private vehicle
- Guide at Lumbini and Kathmandu
- Lumbini development zone and Tilaurakot entry fees
- All applicable taxes
What is not included
- Bhairahawa to Kathmandu airfare if you choose to fly
- Lunch throughout
- Donations, pooja items and candle offerings
- Personal expenses, tips and travel insurance
Photos
Frequently asked questions
- Can we combine this with Kushinagar and Sarnath?
- Yes, and it is the natural way to do it from Gorakhpur. Tell us at enquiry and we will quote the full India and Nepal circuit as one itinerary.
- Is there a dress code?
- Shoulders and knees covered in the sacred garden, and shoes off around the Maya Devi temple. Socks are worth carrying - the marble gets hot.
- How much walking is involved?
- The monastic zone is spread over several kilometres. We use a vehicle between clusters and there are cycle rickshaws inside, so you choose how much to walk.