While Lumbini is a focal point for Buddhist pilgrims, visitors with a variety of faiths and beliefs come for a spiritual experience.

Prayer and meditation

Find a deeper experience at Buddha’s birthplace by dedicating some time to prayer or joining the activities at one of the monasteries.

Lumbini is a holy place and many visitors want to have more than just a tourist experience and find more meaningful ways to explore the spirituality. There are many ways that this can be done.

For some people, it is as simple as spending time in prayer in the Sacred Garden, sitting beneath a tree by the pond. There will always be other people here performing ‘puja’, a Buddhist term that describes an act of religious devotion.
Many of the monasteries in Lumbini offer daily prayer and meditation sessions that visitors are welcome to join. These normally happen early in the morning before breakfast or in the evening around sunset. You will be able to find the exact times and activities by asking at the monasteries you are interested in.

There are also special events that occur during the year that provide the chance to experience the spiritual side of Buddha’s birthplace. Most of the monasteries will do a special puja ceremony each month on the full moon, as well as on anniversaries of important dates.

For an immersive experience, you may also like to spend a few days living at a monastery or at one of the meditation centres. Each offers different programs for novices and advanced and allows you to experience monastic life and go deeper on an inner journey.