White dome
Golden spire.
Chaudhary.creation — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Vetdoc.mls — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Mana890 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Mohammad Ayub Musalman — CC BY-SA 4.0
A huge white stupa at the northern end of Lumbini's sacred area, built by a Japanese Buddhist order as one of its Peace Pagodas around the world and opened early in the 21st century, now one of Lumbini's finest landmarks. The dome rises on white round terraces ringed by stairs, crowned by a golden spire, with golden Buddha figures in niches on its sides showing stages of the Buddha's life. A long straight path between rows of trees leads to it, and in front a broad pond mirrors the dome. On the way you pass the vast monastic zone, where many Asian countries have built monasteries in their national styles, Thai, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese and Myanmar, along both sides of a long canal. Near the pagoda is a sanctuary for large cranes. Entry is free; distances in Lumbini are long, so a bike or electric cart is best. Temples and stupas are living places of worship: dress modestly, walk clockwise around Buddhist stupas and remove shoes where asked. The Terai plains are very hot from April to June; October to March is the mildest time.
Golden spire.
Asian styles.
Between trees.
North of the monastic zone, Lumbini
Distances between the temple, monasteries and pagoda are long, so hire a bike or take the electric carts.