Lumbini, the traditional birthplace of Siddhartha Gautama, is located in Nepal.
Lumbini lies in Nepal’s Rupandehi District, in the southern plains near the Indian border. Buddhist tradition identifies it as the place where Queen Maya gave birth to Siddhartha, who later became known as the Buddha.
The site became especially important after Emperor Ashoka visited it in the 3rd century BCE and erected a pillar recording his pilgrimage. Archaeological remains at Lumbini include the Maya Devi Temple, a sacred pond, monasteries, and the Ashoka Pillar.
Lumbini is sometimes confused with Bodh Gaya, Sarnath, and Kushinagar. Bodh Gaya is associated with enlightenment, Sarnath with the first sermon, and Kushinagar with the Buddha’s death. Lumbini was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997.