Spiritual · Devdaha
Maya Devi's home town circuit
A morning circuit of Devdaha's main sites: the Maya Devi temple and ruins at Bhawanipur, the Kanya Mai shrine of Prajapati Gautami, and Devdaha park, with the story of the Buddha's mother's family told along the way.
We start at Bhawanipur, also called Devidamar, about 4 km south of the highway. The temple here is dedicated to Maya Devi, and around it lie a long stone column, a stone image of the sun god, an old brick well and the low walls of ancient buildings, some visible at ground level.
Next is Kanya Mai, a short drive away, where tradition remembers Prajapati Gautami, the sister who raised the Buddha after Maya Devi's death and later became the first Buddhist nun. Sculptures found in the 2011 excavations are kept at the shrine.
We finish at Devdaha park on the highway, with its standing Buddha and gilded Sariputra. Along the way your guide tells the family story: two sisters, a prince raised by his aunt, and a homecoming that never reached its end.
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Questions
What is the connection between Devdaha and the Buddha?
Devdaha is identified with Devadaha, the Koliya town that tradition names as the home of the Buddha's mother Maya Devi, his foster mother Prajapati Gautami and his wife Yashodhara. Maya Devi was travelling here to give birth when the Buddha was born at Lumbini. Texts say the Buddha later visited and taught here.
How long does the Devdaha circuit take?
Allow 3–4 hours for Bhawanipur, Kanya Mai and Devdaha park, including driving between them on village roads. Add an hour if you want to see the great pakari tree near Khaireni. From Lumbini, the full trip takes most of a day.
Are there entry fees at Devdaha's sites?
The Devdaha sites have generally been free to visit, with donations welcomed at temples. Facilities are being developed by the Lumbini Development Trust and the municipality, so arrangements may change. Check current status before you travel.
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