After a few days in Chitwan, we continued our journey towards Lumbini. It felt like a big contrast to our days in the national park. In Chitwan, we had been on safari and seen lots of animals, and above all, it was an incredible experience to see tigers in the wild. After all that adventure, it was nice to arrive at a much quieter place.
Lumbini is mainly known as the place where Buddha was traditionally born. Already when we arrived, it was clear that the city had a completely different atmosphere compared to many of the other places we had visited during the trip. It was quieter, there was less traffic and much more focus on temples, religion and history.
What I liked most about Lumbini was that you could take things slowly. After several intense days of travelling, sightseeing and safari, it was nice not to have to rush between different attractions. Instead, we could walk around the area, visit different temples and simply take in the surroundings.
One of the most important places is Maya Devi Temple. It is the place most strongly associated with the birth of Buddha and is therefore also one of the places that almost every visitor comes to. It was interesting to see people from different parts of the world coming there to pray, meditate and show their respect.
Around the Lumbini Development Zone there are several different temples and monasteries. What made the area especially interesting was that the temples represent different Buddhist traditions and countries. You could therefore walk from one area to another and see very different architecture and surroundings.
I think the best way to experience Lumbini is not to rush. Take a walk, stop at the temples and give yourself time to actually look at the details. It is not a place where you need to try to see twenty different things in one day.
It was also quite nice to compare Lumbini with Chitwan. In just a few days, we had gone from sitting in a vehicle out in the jungle looking for tigers and rhinos to walking around among temples and religious buildings. That variety was something I really appreciated about travelling through Nepal.
Lumbini therefore became a somewhat quieter stop on the journey. It may not have been the most action-packed part of the trip, but that was exactly what we needed after Chitwan. We had the opportunity to slow down, experience another side of Nepal and prepare for the next part of the journey.
After Lumbini, it was time to continue towards Pokhara. It was a stop I had really been looking forward to because Pokhara would become the starting point for the next big adventure – the Himalayas and Annapurna Base Camp.
The contrast would once again be huge. From Lumbini's flat landscape, we would continue towards the mountains and a completely different climate. Trekking, high altitudes and some of the most impressive mountain landscapes in Nepal were waiting for us.
When I think back on Lumbini, it is mainly the peaceful atmosphere that I remember. After all the intense experiences during the journey, it was nice to slow down a little before the next big adventure began.
These are my favourites
I recommend staying relatively close to the temple area. This makes it easy to get around and saves you unnecessary travel time between your accommodation and the attractions.
💰 Price level: $There are several simple cafés and restaurants where you can have a coffee, something cold to drink or lunch between visits to the temples.
💰 Price level: $1. Maya Devi Temple – The most important place in Lumbini and the site associated with the birth of Buddha.
2. Lumbini Development Zone – A large area with temples and monasteries representing different Buddhist traditions.
3. The international temples – It is interesting to see how different countries have their own temples and architectural styles.
4. The peaceful atmosphere – Lumbini is a great place if you want to take a break from the faster pace of the rest of the journey.
5. Walking around – Take your time to walk between the temples and explore the area without rushing.
After our days in Chitwan, we continued towards Lumbini. It was nice to leave the jungle and safari experiences behind and arrive in a much quieter environment.
💰 Price level: $$After Lumbini, the journey continues towards Pokhara. From there, the next big adventure awaits – the trek towards Annapurna Base Camp.
💰 Price level: $$–$$$$Lumbini has several simple restaurants where you can enjoy Nepalese and other Asian food. I recommend trying local food and keeping things simple.
After walking around the temples, it is nice to find a quiet place to eat something before continuing.
💰 Price level: $–$$Lumbini is mainly a place where you should take things slowly. Don't try to plan too much in one day and give yourself time to walk around the temples.
Also show respect at the religious sites and remember that many people visit them to pray and meditate.