About Lumbini Project Site Location & Geography

Inauguration Ceremony
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The Site of The Lumbini Development Project

The site of the Lumbini Development Project is a rectangle, oriented from South to North, covering 3 square miles, with three areas each one mile square, connected by a central link - a 1.5 km long corridor canal flanked by two brick pedestrian walkways.

The Southernmost part of the site is the Sacred Garden, a sacred land surrounded by a round lake, embracing and protecting the ancient heritage of great spiritual significance. This includes the Memorial Hall of Buddhas Birthplace, Ashoka’s Pillar the statue of the former temple of Mayadevi, and some historical artifacts of ancient Lumbini.

A sacred slate, the most meaningful artifact for the international Buddhist community was uncovered three levels below the ruin of the sacred site, at the location of the former Temple of Mayadevi. This slate further confirmed that the site was the actual spot where Queen Mayadevi gave birth to Prince Siddhartha, then the future Buddha.

The central canal connects the Sacred Birth Site at the South to the World Peace Stupa at the North, symbolizing a deep connection between historical heritage and a vision of peace and hope.

The ancient wisdom of the Buddha can continue to manifest through present day actual practice, which will be realized through the establishment and works of research institutes and monasteries, with Sangha members representing various countries and traditions, in the Cultural Center and Monastic Area.

This area is located in the center of the Lumbini Development Area. The Cultural Center includes a research center, a library, lecture hall and a museum. In the Area of International Monasteries, East and West Monastic Zones are divided by the central canal. Forty two pieces of land have been allocated for Monasteries of both Theravada and Mahayana traditions. All of them will be built with the purpose of studying, researching and preserving the spiritual traditions of Buddhism. For the Lumbini Udyana Mahachaitya (L.U.M.), Rinpoche selected a square shape, 80 meters on each side, next to the center of the Mahayana zone, neighboring the monasteries of France, India, Germany, Vietnam, the People's Republic of China, and Canada.