I’ve enjoyed a few visits to Lumbini, Buddha’s birthplace, and also stayed overnight at the Korean Monastery. This week was a very big celebration for Buddha’s birthday with huge crowds. I missed the political leaders and the speeches only seeing the helicopter overhead.
Lumbini is a world heritage site and Buddhist communities around the world have built monasteries in the compound. All are interesting and the Korean one welcomes large numbers of guests from anywhere. It seems that others only take guests from their home nation. Lumbini is the only tourist spot around here, an hour on the bus for the 22 km. So peaceful inside the park and a great contrast to here in Bhairawa – there’s no doubt I’ll continue to visit.
At the Korean monastery you stay in a dormitory (single rooms are sometimes available), meet lots of international backpackers, as well as busloads of Buddhist visitors from nearby countries, enjoy delicious Korean food 3 times a day and are able to join the worship at 6.30pm (I‘ve been a few times) and 5 am (just once at that time).
One of our focus schools is in Lumbini which makes my visits to the Korean Monastery even more certain!
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