Considered as the birthplace of Siddhartha, who later became Lord Buddha, Lumbini draws hundreds of Buddhist pilgrims daily. In the year 250 BC, the legendary emperor Ashoka erected a stone pillar here marking the birthplace of Buddha. Maya Devi, the mother of Buddha, gave birth to the Lord near a tree in the centre of the garden, which now houses a temple dedicated to her. Lumbini is around 300 km away from the capital city and makes for a great weekend getaway from Kathmandu. A UNESCO world cultural heritage site, Lumbini is more than just a religious place.