Lumbini & the Buddha's Country · – · –
Lumbini & the Buddha's Country in January
Cool, dry and often foggy on the plains until late morning, with clear, sunny afternoons. The hills are crisp and clear, with the best Himalayan views of the year from Srinagar Danda and Resunga. Mid-January brings Maghe Sankranti and the three-day bathing fair at Ridi. Flights into Bhairahawa can be delayed by fog, so leave slack in your plans.
Local tip for January
Book midday rather than early-morning flights to Bhairahawa in January, when fog is thickest.
Where to go in January
Lumbini & the Buddha's Country500 mRidi
A temple town where the Ridi Khola meets the sacred Kali Gandaki
Lumbini & the Buddha's Country100 mLumbini
The garden where the Buddha was born, marked by Ashoka in 249 BCE
Lumbini & the Buddha's Country105 mTilaurakot
The walled city most scholars take for Kapilavastu, the Shakya capital
Festivals around January
Trips at their best in January
Lumbini & the Buddha's Countrymax 1,400 mBuddha's Nepal: Kathmandu Stupas to Lumbini
Seven nights tracing Buddhism in Nepal from the hill stupa of Swayambhunath and the great dome of Boudhanath to the caves of …
Lumbini & the Buddha's Countrymax 1,400 mKali Gandaki: Ridi, Rani Mahal and Devghat
Five nights following Nepal's holiest western river through the hills of Palpa. Base in Tansen for Rani Mahal, sleep beside the Kali …
Lumbini & the Buddha's Countrymax 1,400 mKapilavastu Circuit: Tilaurakot, Kudan and Pillars
Three nights in Lumbini with two full days west and east of it: the walled ruins of Tilaurakot, where Nepal places the …
Lumbini & the Buddha's Countrymax 1,400 mBuddhist Circuit: Kathmandu to Sunauli Border
The Nepal half of the Buddhist circuit in five nights. One night in Kathmandu for Swayambhunath, then four in Lumbini for the …
Lumbini & the Buddha's Countrymax 1,400 mFamily Heritage: Lumbini and Chitwan
A six-night family trip across the plains of Nepal. Two nights in Lumbini to cycle between monasteries from a dozen countries and …
Lumbini & the Buddha's Countrymax 1,400 mLumbini Meditation Retreat
Five quiet nights at the birthplace of the Buddha, built around practice rather than sightseeing. Dawn sits in the Sacred Garden, walking …
Lumbini & the Buddha's Countrymax 1,400 mLumbini Pilgrimage: Two Nights at the Birthplace
Two nights at the birthplace of the Buddha. Fly 35 minutes from Kathmandu to Bhairahawa, walk the Sacred Garden at the hours …
Lumbini & the Buddha's Countrymax 1,600 mLumbini to Pokhara via Tansen
Six nights that climb from the plains to the mountains. Two nights at the Buddha's birthplace in Lumbini, one in the old …
Lumbini & the Buddha's Countrymax 1,750 mNepal Buddhist Grand Tour
Twelve nights through every layer of Buddhism in Nepal: the Newar courtyards of Patan, Swayambhunath, two nights beside Boudhanath, the hilltop monastery …
Lumbini & the Buddha's Countrymax 1,400 mTansen and Palpa: Hill Town, Dhaka and Rani Mahal
Three nights in Tansen, the old capital of the Palpa kingdom, on a ridge at about 1,350 m above the Terai. Walk …
Elsewhere in Nepal in January
Questions
Is January a good time to visit Lumbini & the Buddha's Country?
Cool, dry and often foggy on the plains until late morning, with clear, sunny afternoons. The hills are crisp and clear, with the best Himalayan views of the year from Srinagar Danda and Resunga. Mid-January brings Maghe Sankranti and the three-day bathing fair at Ridi. Flights into Bhairahawa can be delayed by fog, so leave slack in your plans.
What is the weather like in Lumbini & the Buddha's Country in January?
Lumbini 7–22 °C, foggy mornings; Tansen 5–17 °C, clear. Conditions change fast with altitude, so check the forecast for each stop a week before you travel.
Where should we go in Lumbini & the Buddha's Country in January?
We suggest Ridi, Lumbini, Tilaurakot. Book midday rather than early-morning flights to Bhairahawa in January, when fog is thickest.