Back home I had already planned that I will visit Lumbini too- how can I wind up my pilgrimage without visiting the place where Lord Buddha was born! Since Lumbini falls in the territory of Nepal, it required all the formalities needed for crossing an international border. I even offered baksheesh to the officials so that I don’t face any hastle in getting my work done.

From New Delhi I flew to Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal. From Kathmandu I had to take a 45-minute filght to Bhairawa, an industrial town in south Nepal. I stayed for the night at a guest house in Bhairawa and early next morning proceeded to Lumbini. I hired a three-wheeler tempo and after a ride of 22kms I arrived at my destination.

I visited the Sacred Garden, which is spread over 8 sq.km and possesses all the treasures of the historic area. The garden is flanked by many temples, shrines and monasteries constructed as a part of the global initiative to promote Lumbini as the mecca Of Buddhism.

I also went to the Ashoka pillar, which carries an inscription identifying the holy site as the birthplace of Lord Buddha. To one side of Ashoka pillar is the Mayadevi Temple which houses a bas relief depicting the nativity. Towards the south of the pillar I noticed a pond and I was informed by other visitors that it is the Puskarni pond, where Queen Mayadevi, the Buddha's mother, had taken a bath before giving birth to him.

Thereafter, I visited the Lumbini Museum and marvelled at the sight of Mauryan and Kushana coins, religious manuscripts, terra-cotta fragments, and stone and metal sculptures. I couldn’t resist the temptation of going to the Lumbini International Research Institute (LIRI), located opposite the Lumbini Museum. It provides research facilities for the study of Buddhism and religion in general. Inside the museum I found thousands of books on religion, philosophy, atr and architecture.

I was overwhelmed to see these sacred sites lying untampered- preserved to inspire our future generations and guide them towards a virtuous life.