This year, it felt like everyone I knew was visiting Portugal — which makes sense, considering the country saw a record-breaking number of tourists between January and June.
03.10.2024 - 19:37 / lonelyplanet.com
Oct 2, 2024 • 6 min read
The birthplace of Prince Siddhartha Gautama, who the world came to know as the Buddha, Lumbini is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that houses several monuments of Buddhist and historical significance. Despite being a while away from Nepal’s popular Kathmandu-Pokhara-Chitwan golden triangle, Lumbini draws people – primarily pilgrims – to walk in the footsteps of its most famous resident from over 2500 years ago.
The 22,288-km-sq (8605-sq-mile) region is divided into three major territories — the Sacred Garden, the Monastic Zone, and the Cultural Centre and New Lumbini village. Among other structures and sites, it contains remains of viharas – monastic living quarters – and stupas, and newer, contemporary monasteries built by countries around the world to pay homage to the Buddha.
As you walk among orange- and maroon-robed monks and past prayer flags, here's everything you need to know about this spiritual site.
The best time to visit Lumbini is between October and December, right after monsoon and before it gets too cold. The monsoons are avoidable with constant rain that hinders movement, as do the deep winters of January and February — the winter fog can keep landmarks covered for a good part of the day. March and April are pleasant, but Lumbini is only at an elevation of 150m (492ft) so unlike in Nepal’s mountain destinations, the summer months of May and June frequently hit 35–40°C (95–104°F). However, if you have it in you to brave the sultry weather, it is worth going there in May (or April, depending on the Hindu calendar) to see the Buddha Jayanti festivities that mark the Buddha’s day of birth.
For a traveler headed to Lumbini with the intent of ticking it off their bucket list, a day’s visit is enough to cover its major landmarks. However, a two-day stop is the bare minimum for anyone who wants a more wholesome experience. To get under the skin of not just the monuments, but also Buddhism and its basic tenets, add a third day to explore surrounding areas and absorb the atmosphere to understand why the faith echoes with many people around the world including those who define themselves as “spiritual but not religious”. For those who want to pursue the complete Gautam Buddha circuit and explore the surrounding districts of Lumbini that comprise the Greater Lumbini area, a week is recommended.
The closest airport for Lumbini is Bhairahawa in Siddharth Nagar, better known now as the Gautam Buddha International Airport. It’s about 18km (11 miles) away from Lumbini Garden - the core complex - and can be reached conveniently by taxi in half an hour. There are buses all the way from Kathmandu too, but poor road conditions can make the 10-hour journey exasperating.
Due to its
This year, it felt like everyone I knew was visiting Portugal — which makes sense, considering the country saw a record-breaking number of tourists between January and June.
The scent of burning wood filled my nostrils as I pushed through the large paned doors of Fore Street in Portland, Maine. The restaurant, with its tavern-like atmosphere and rustic wood and brick accents, instantly felt welcoming.
A Traveler’s Tale: Author and cook Ina Garten on France—
Oct 3, 2024 • 6 min read
Oct 3, 2024 • 10 min read
Oct 3, 2024 • 7 min read
Oct 1, 2024 • 11 min read
Frontier Airlines will launch flights to the Vail ski area for the first time ever in December, making it easier to get to the resort in time for ski season.
Sep 30, 2024 • 9 min read
As a beer aficionado, I've been to my fair share of brew festivals throughout the US, several of which were "Oktoberfest" themed.
Sep 30, 2024 • 3 min read
I grew up in New England, and have spent many summers visiting popular destinations like Nantucket, Newport, and York Beach.