लुम्बिनी भ्रमण वर्ष-२०१२ को अवसरमा आयोजना हुने विभिन्न कार्यक्रममध्ये कोषले ज्ञान प्राप्तिका लागि गृहत्याग गर्ने भगवान् गौतम बुद्धको तत्कालीन झलकको अनुभूति हुनेगरी शुल्कसहित कपिलवस्तुदेखि लुम्बिनीसम्मको घोडचडी यात्रा तय गरेको हो ।

कपिलवस्तुको तिलौराकोटस्थित दरबारमा राजसी सुखमा २९ वर्ष बिताएका -सिद्धार्थ गौतम) बुद्धले संसारमा व्याप्त दुःख र अशान्तिको कारण तथा त्यसको निवारण खोज्न मध्यरातमा गृहत्याग गरेका थिए ।

वैशाख शुक्ल पूणिर्माको मध्यरातमा बुद्धले गृहत्याग गर्दाको झल्को अनुभूति गर्न चाहनेले लुम्बिनी विकास कोषलाई कम्तीमा १० हजार शुल्क तिर्नुपर्ने छ ।

तिलौराकोट दरबारबाट सुनसान रातमा घोडा चढेर लुम्बिनी आउन चाहनेको सङ्ख्या हेरेर घोडाको व्यवस्था गरिने विकास कोषका सदस्यसचिव राजेन्द्र थापामगरले बताउनुभयो । घोडाको व्यवस्था गर्न नेपाली सेना र नेपाल प्रहरीसंँग छलफल भइरहेको उहाँले बताउनुभयो ।

लुम्बिनी भ्रमण वर्ष सुरु हुने दिन जनवरी १४ अर्थात् यही पुस ३० गतेदेखि नै त्यस्तो यात्रा गर्न चाहनेले आˆनो नाम र घोडा बुक गराउन सक्ने व्यवस्था विकास कोषले गर्नेछ । घोडचढीको कार्यक्रम भने वैशाख शुक्ल पूणिर्माकै दिन नभए पनि पूर्णचन्द्र अथवा ‘फुल मुन’को रातमा आयोजना हुनेछ । त्यस्तो कार्यक्रम बुकिङअनुसार वर्षभरि नै चलाउने कोषको योजना छ । बुद्ध धर्म र दर्शनप्रति श्रद्धा राख्ने नेपाली तथा विदेशी पर्यटकले यसमा सहभागिता जनाउने विश्वास कोषले गरेको छ । विकास कोषले तयार गरेको यो कार्यक्रम संसारभरका बौद्धमार्गीका लागि नौलो र रोमाञ्चक हुने विश्वास संस्कृतिविद् डा. गितु गिरीको छ ।

भगवान् बुद्धले २९ वर्षको उमेरमा राजसी सुखसयलसहित गृहत्याग गर्दा ‘कन्थक’ नामक घोडा र ‘छन्ना’ नामक सारथीलाई संँगै लिएर निस्किएको इतिहास छ । घरबाट निस्किएका सिद्धार्थ गौतम तत्कालीन अनोमा नदी -हालको नारायणी नदी) किनारमा बसेर आˆना सबै राजकीय गहना तथा पोसाक खोलेर मुण्डन गरी घोडा र सारथिलाई फर्काएर आफू ज्ञान प्राप्तिका लागि कुशीनगरतर्फ लागेको सम्बद्ध ऐतिहासिक कृतिमा उल्लेख छ ।

UNESCO informed that excavation would be carried out at major sites and the western part of the palace.

The excavation would be carried out under the scheme of Lumbini Development Trust and the Department of Archeology.

According to UNESCO, the excavation would also help promote tourism in Tilaurakot area.

Ravines Cunningham, UNESCO representative and professor of Durban University, United Kingdom, said Sunday that the excavation works would continue for five years.

Addressing a programme organized at the district headquarters in Taulihawa to announce the excavation works, Cunningham said that Kapilvastu was enriched with archeological sites.

“Carrying an excavation in such a holy place is a privilege,” said Cunningham.

He assured that the excavation of Tilaurakot would bring the Shakya palace into limelight.

“Until now Tilaurakot, where the palace of Suddhodhana was, is under shadow but the new excavation will make it as famous as Lumbini in the world,” he said.

Lumbini Development Trust said that the excavation work will be carried from July 2011 to May 2015.

The east and west gates of historic Shakya palace were found but the main palace of Sudhodhana, the Shakya king, was yet to be ascertained.

Investigation regarding the missing parts of the palace and the hidden secrets would be made public at its earliest, informed UNESCO.

Equipment and other archeological sites found during the excavation period will be preserved in a scientific way.

Archeologist Bhesh Narayan Dahal said that Kapivastu museum would also be expanded under the excavation project.

Several other places near Lumbini are linked with stories connected to Buddha and Buddhism. Lumbini is about 300 kilometers south-west of Kathmandu. Buses and flights to Bhairawa which is about 22 kilometers from Lumbini, are available from major cities. From Bhairawa transport services to Lumbini are easily available. There are sufficient hotels and restaurants in Lumbini and Bhairawa.

Some important monuments to see in this area:
The Lumbini Garden - This is the site marked by a stone pillar (Ashoka Pillar) erected by the Indian Emperpr Ashoka at about 245B.C. The most important discovery in this place is a stone marked to suggest the exact birthplace of Buddha.

Mayadevi Temple - This temple dedicated to the mother of Lord Buddha, Maya Devi, was excavated a few years ago. Many sculptures and carving in which the figures and designs are only slightly projecting from their background are seen here.
Lumbini has many new monasteries and stupas built by Buddhist communities from around the world. Besides the Nepal Buddha Temple and the Dharmaswami Buddhist monastery, many other countries like Japan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam,  France, Germany and Burma etc have built their own temples and monasteries.
Lumbini also has a museum and a research center for Buddhism. At present the Lumbini Development Trust is implementing a master plan to develop Lumbini according to by Prof. K. Tange’s design.