Things to do in Central Terai
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West Monastic Zone
The West Monastic Zone is set aside for monasteries from the Mahayana school. Starting at the Eternal Flame (just north of the Maya Devi Temple), follow the dirt road along the west bank of the pond to the Panditarama International Vipassana Meditation Centre.
Heading north, a track turns west to the Drubgyud Chöling Gompa, a classic Tibetan-style gompa built in 2001 by Buddhists from Singapore and Nepal. The mural work inside is quite refined and a gigantic stupa is under construction next door. A small track veers south to the tasteful Manang Samaj Gompa, a giant chörten (Tibetan reliquary stupa) constructed by Buddhists from Manang in northern Nepal. Further west is …
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East Monastic Zone
The East Monastic Zone is set aside for monasteries from the Theravada school. The area is less developed than the western zone and the track is bumpier, but many of the monasteries have peaceful woodland settings.
Close to the north end of the pond, the Royal Thai Buddhist Monastery is an imposing wat (Thai-style monastery) built from gleaming white marble. Next door is the rather plain and austere Mahamaya Vishwa Shanti Buddha Vihara, constructed as a joint venture between Japanese Buddhists and the Indian Mahabodhi Society.
A short cycle ride south is the Myanmar Golden Temple, one of the oldest structures in the compound. There are three prayer halls here - the most i…
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Ashokan Pillar
The Indian emperor Ashoka visited Lumbini in around 249 BC, leaving behind an inscribed sandstone pillar to commemorate the occasion. After being lost for centuries, Ashoka's pillar was rediscovered by the governor of Palpa, Khadga Shumsher Rana, in 1896. The 6m high pink sandstone pillar has now been returned to its original site in front of the Maya Devi temple - the pillar isn't much to look at, but it is highly revered by Nepali Buddhists.
King Mahendra of Nepal tried to match the feat with his own column in the 1980s, but it languishes, largely forgotten, at the south end of the park.
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Buddhist Monasteries Tour
Since the founding of the Lumbini Development Zone in 1978, Buddhist nations from around the world have constructed extravagant monasteries around the birthplace of the Buddha. Each reflects the unique interpretation of Buddhism of its home nation and together the monasteries create a fascinating map of world Buddhist philosophy.
The site is extremely spread out, so hire a bicycle in Lumbini Bazar or rent one of the waiting rickshaws at the entrance to the archaeological zone. Unless otherwise stated, all the monasteries are open daily during daylight hours.
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Elephant Breeding Centre
About 3km west of Sauraha on the far side of the small Bhude Rapti River, the elephant breeding centre is a must-see sight in Chitwan. Providing most of the elephants for elephant safaris at Chitwan, it’s fascinating watching the interaction between mother and baby elephants, as well as the multi-task use of their trunk (which has a staggering 40,000 muscles), such as covering themselves in dust to ward off mosquitoes or scratching their backside with a bamboo stick.
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Bird Education Society
Run by local volunteers, the friendly Bird Education Society should be the first port of call for twitchers. In a new location on the road to the elephant breeding centre, the society has a library of bird books and a binocular rental service (Rs 50/100 per hour/day) and also has guided birdwatching excursions every Saturday from 7am to 11am. There’s no charge but donations help fund the activities.
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World Peace Pagoda
Easily accessible by bike, the impressive gleaming white World Peace Pagoda was constructed by Japanese Buddhists at a cost of US$1 million. The shining golden statue depicts the Buddha in the posture he assumed when he was born. Near the base of the stupa is the grave of a Japanese monk murdered by anti-Buddhist extremists during the construction of the monument.
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Tourism for Rural Poverty Alleviation Programme
Recently, a number of traditional villages around Lumbini have been developed for grassroots tourism as part of the Tourism for Rural Poverty Alleviation Programme. The project is just getting off the ground but several of the lodges and hotels around the Development Zone now run village tours with a focus on traditional lifestyles and livelihoods. Call for more details.
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Wildlife Display & Information Centre
The new Wildlife Display & Information Centre in Sauraha has educational displays on wildlife, including a rather macabre collection of animal foetuses in jars, skulls, plaster-cast footprints and a collection of animal poo, while the various animal reproductive organs preserved in formaldehyde make for a novel exhibit.
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Nanglo West
You can’t go without sampling the Nepali delights at Nanglo West. This Kathmandu chain is a class act, serving local Newari dishes like choyla (dried buffalo or duck meat with chilli and ginger), served with chura (flattened rice) and spiced potatoes in curd. There’s also a decent bakery out front.
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Maya Devi Temple
The Maya Devi Temple sits on the exact site of the birth of the Buddha, according to Buddhist scholars. It’s reputed that it was here where the heavily pregnant Maya Devi came upon a pond of extraordinary beauty amid the thick jungle, and gave birth to Siddhartha Gautama under the auspicious Bodhi tree.
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Great Drigung Kagyud Lotus Stupa
One of the Mahayana monasteries, set around an L-shaped pond. The truly extravagant Great Drigung Kagyud Lotus Stupa is one of the most beautiful temples here and was constructed by the German Tara Foundation. The domed ceiling of the main prayer room is covered in some inspired Buddhist murals.
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Panditarama International Vipassana Meditation Centre
Starting at the Eternal Flame (just north of the Maya Devi Temple), follow the dirt road along the west bank of the pond to the Panditarama International Vipassana Meditation Centre, where serious practitioners of meditation can study for a nominal donation.
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Mountain Botanical Gardens
The Mountain Botanical Gardens spans over 193 acres of forest full of interesting plant species. February to March is the best time to visit, when the rhododendrons (the national flower of Nepal) are in full bloom, providing a stunning scenery with the Himalaya backdrop.
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Tharu Cultural Museum & Research Center
The informative Tharu Cultural Museum & Research Center in Bachhauli, the nearest Tharu village to Sauraha has colourful murals and exhibits on artefacts and local dress. It’s a must-see for those interested in Tharu culture, and worth visiting.
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Lumbini Crane Sanctuary
The surrounding wetlands are protected as part of the Lumbini Crane Sanctuary and you stand a good chance of seeing rare sarus cranes stalking through the water meadows. There's no formal entrance to the park and no entrance fee - just stroll into the damp meadows behind the pagoda.
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Lumbini Museum
This museum is devoted to the life of the Buddha, with artefacts and photos from Buddhist sites around the world, from Kathmandu to Kandy. The building is an interesting contemporary design, with a series of brick cylindrical blocks fitted with large round windows.
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Happy House
For something a bit upmarket, head to Happy House near the Jungle View Restaurant. This small, family-run business produces its own honey (in various delectable varieties) and sells gorgeous Mithila paintings produced by women’s craft cooperatives near Janakpur.
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Tharu Cultural Museum
There’s a tiny Tharu Cultural Museum in Harnari, one of the best villages to get a taste of Tharu culture. It has displays of ornaments and a rakshi distillery pot. If it’s closed, ask around and someone will open it up.
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Zhong Hua Chinese Buddhist Monastery
The elegant Zhong Hua Chinese Buddhist Monastery is one of the most impressive structures at Lumbini. Reached through a gateway flanked by Confucian deities, this elegant pagoda-style monastery looks like something from the Forbidden City.
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KC’s Restaurant
The most popular choice in Sauraha, KC’s is set in a Spanish-style hacienda with an open terrace and a fire pit at the back. The chefs here cook up a feast and the menu runs from Nepali and Indian curries to pizzas and pasta.
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Sweet Memory Restaurant
An attractive family-run shack restaurant with plenty of flowers and pot plants, Sweet Memory prides itself on its home-style cooking. The roast chicken is recommended, and it also serves up good filtered coffee.
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Threefox Restaurant
This upstairs restaurant is beautifully decorated with colourful Buddhist curtains and paintings on the wall. There’s a range of Tibetan, Indian and Western food, and outdoor seating looking over the bazaar.
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Royal Thai Buddhist Monastery
The stunning Royal Thai Buddhist Monastery is an imposing wat (Thai-style monastery) built from gleaming white marble that gives it the appearance of having been carved from ivory.
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Mosaic Art Workshop
If you’ve got time to kill in Bhairawa, you can visit the Mosaic Art Workshop which trains deaf Nepali people and girls rescued from circuses in India in mosaics and other crafts.
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