Pilgrims meditate at the Maya Devi Temple, with ancient remains in the background, at Lumbini in Nepal. The site is said to be the birthplace of the Buddha.
Oldest Buddhist shrine —
Pilgrims meditate at the Maya Devi Temple, with ancient remains in the background, at Lumbini in Nepal. The site is said to be the birthplace of the Buddha.
Ira Block/National Geographic
Archaeologist Robin Coningham of Durham University in the United Kingdom emerges from the dig at the Lumbini Village Mound in Nepal. He led a study describing the oldest Buddhist shrine ever found.
Oldest Buddhist shrine —
Archaeologist Robin Coningham of Durham University in the United Kingdom emerges from the dig at the Lumbini Village Mound in Nepal. He led a study describing the oldest Buddhist shrine ever found.
Ira Block/National Geographic
Monks chant within the Maya Devi Temple, which enshrines the Buddha's birthplace, at Lumbini in Nepal.
Oldest Buddhist shrine —
Monks chant within the Maya Devi Temple, which enshrines the Buddha's birthplace, at Lumbini in Nepal.
Ira Block/National Geographic
Coningham works in the trench in the remains of an ancient monastery. The Maya Devi Temple is in the background.
Oldest Buddhist shrine —
Coningham works in the trench in the remains of an ancient monastery. The Maya Devi Temple is in the background.
Ira Block/National Geographic
Thai monks inside the Maya Devi Temple meditate over the remains of the oldest Buddhist shrine.
Oldest Buddhist shrine —
Thai monks inside the Maya Devi Temple meditate over the remains of the oldest Buddhist shrine.
Ira Block/National Geographic
Coningham, left, and Kosh Prasad Acharya direct excavations within the Maya Devi Temple. They uncovered a series of ancient temples; the oldest, they say, is from the sixth century B.C.
Oldest Buddhist shrine —
Coningham, left, and Kosh Prasad Acharya direct excavations within the Maya Devi Temple. They uncovered a series of ancient temples; the oldest, they say, is from the sixth century B.C.
Ira Block/National Geographic
Pilgrims meditate by a stone pillar erected by the ancient King Ashoka in the third century B.C., at the Maya Devi Temple.
Oldest Buddhist shrine —
Pilgrims meditate by a stone pillar erected by the ancient King Ashoka in the third century B.C., at the Maya Devi Temple.
Ira Block/National Geographic
A pilgrim meditates at a sacred "Bodhi tree" at the Sacred Garden of Lumbini. More than a million pilgrims visit Lumbini each year.
Oldest Buddhist shrine —
A pilgrim meditates at a sacred "Bodhi tree" at the Sacred Garden of Lumbini. More than a million pilgrims visit Lumbini each year.
Ira Block/National Geographic
Lumbini is one of four major sites of importance for Buddhists. The other locations revered by followers of Buddhism are Bodh Gaya (where he became a Buddha), Sarnath (where he first preached) and Kusinagara (where he passed away).
Oldest Buddhist shrine —
Lumbini is one of four major sites of importance for Buddhists. The other locations revered by followers of Buddhism are Bodh Gaya (where he became a Buddha), Sarnath (where he first preached) and Kusinagara (where he passed away).
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