Maya Devi Temple
मायादेवी मन्दिर
The exact site of the Buddha's birth. The shrine protects an archaeologically excavated birth marker stone and layered brick remains.
Maya Devi Temple is the heart of the Lumbini Sacred Garden. Legend says Queen Maya gave birth to Prince Siddhartha here, beneath an Ashoka tree, while traveling to her parents' home. The white building you see today is a protective shelter rebuilt in 2003. Inside, a wooden walkway circles brick foundations stacked in layers since the 3rd century BCE. In the deepest part, under glass, lies the “Birth Marker Stone,” the focal point where pilgrims kneel. The walls also hold weathered ancient stone carvings depicting the Buddha's birth. Outside the shrine to the south is the Sacred Pond. Legend says Queen Maya bathed there before giving birth, and the newborn prince was first bathed there. By the pond stand a bodhi tree and layers of fluttering prayer flags, and nearby are the remains of several small brick stupas dating back to the Ashoka era. Entry to the Sacred Garden requires a ticket, about 200 Nepalese rupees for foreign visitors (subject to the price posted on site). Shoes must be removed inside the temple, and photography and loud talk are prohibited. Come early in the morning. Pay respects inside the shrine first, then walk around the Sacred Pond and the bodhi tree, and pass the Ashoka Pillar on the way out.
Opening hours
Approx. 06:00–18:00 (slightly shorter in winter)
Nearby sights
- Lumbini Ashoka Pillar
- Puskarini Sacred Pond
- Eternal Peace Flame
- Myanmar Golden Temple & Lokamani Pula Pagoda
- Sri Lankan Monastery
- Dae Sung Shakya Temple (Korean Temple)
- Zhong Hua Chinese Buddhist Monastery
- Royal Thai Monastery