Lumbini is the birthplace of Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha, and one of the most important Buddhist pilgrimage sites in the world. Located in Nepal’s southern Terai, the UNESCO World Heritage Site centres on the Maya Devi Temple, which marks the traditional birthplace. The nearby Ashoka Pillar provides historical evidence of Emperor Ashoka’s visit in the 3rd century BCE. Today, Lumbini also features monasteries from different Buddhist traditions, the World Peace Pagoda and the Lumbini Museum.