Lumbini, the birthplace of
the Buddha, was located in 1890 after being untraced for
1,500 years.
Lumbini grove, the sacred
site of Lord Buddha's birth is today a small village in
Nepal, 27 km from Sonauli on the Indo-Nepal Border.
Three hundred years after the
Mahaparinirvana, Emperor Ashoka visited Lumbini and erected
a pillar there. This pillar, though broken, still remains at
the site. It is known as the Rummendei Pillar after the
earlier name of the place (modern name Rupandhei) in Nepal.
Nearest airport is Varanasi
(323 km) and Bhairawha, Nepal.
The nearest railway station
is Gorakhpur 123 km away.
Buses ply up to the Indian
side of the border, from where the passengers have to
disembark and take another bus after crossing the border
check post.
