Nepal

As more airlines eye Lumbini airport, the birthplace of Siddhartha Gautam Buddha, in south-western Nepal is expecting more international pilgrims and tourists in the months and years to come.

Nepal’s tourism industry, hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, has yet to recover, despite registering a slight increase in international arrivals in 2022.

Kuwait’s Jazeera Airways started operating flights to and from Gautam Buddha International Airport soon after it was opened mid-May. Now officials are expecting more international airlines to fly to Lumbini.

Plus Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Lumbini at Buddha Purnima on May 16 appears to have encouraged more Indian pilgrims to visit the UNESCO world heritage site.

The site is famous for Mayadevi temple, where Buddha was born, Ashoka Pillar and dozens of international monasteries built in the monastic zone.

Officials say the area is being developed in line with the Lumbini Masterplan developed by Japanese architect Professor Kenzo Tange. As of now, 80 percent works have been completed, they say. Besides the Mayadevi temple and monastic zone, Lumbini also boasts the Greater Lumbini area, with a Siddhartha Gautam-era sites such as Devadaha, Ramgram.

Here’re some photos from Lumbini, captured this weekend. 

(All photos: NepalMinute)