China News Service, Kathmandu, November 18th (Reporter Zhang Chenyi) Lumbini Holy Garden, Nepal, the birthplace of Sakyamuni, reopened to tourists on the 18th.
Lumbini Development Foundation Planning Committee Director Batlay said that the decision was made in accordance with government regulations. Starting today, visitors can enter the Lumbini Sacred Garden to visit Ashoka’s stone pillars and the Pushkarini Sacred Pool near the Maya Temple. However, the Madam Maya Temple Fair continues to remain closed.
"Regardless of domestic and foreign tourists, they must abide by the health rules when visiting, especially wearing masks." Batlay said that we have also set up a number of tourists' body temperature monitoring points and disinfection hand sanitizer supply points in the Holy Garden. At the same time, we have previously provided various types of epidemic prevention training for taxi drivers and rickshaw drivers in Lumbini, striving for everyone to comply with health regulations.
Lumbini is about 300 kilometers away from Kathmandu. According to legend, it was the place where Mrs. Maya gave birth to Gautama Siddhartha (Sakyamuni). Later archaeologists excavated a stone pillar of Ashoka in Lumbini according to the records of "The Western Regions of the Tang Dynasty" and the high monk Fa Xian of the Eastern Jin Dynasty. The edict on it shows that Lumbini is the birthplace of the Buddha.
At present, with the joint efforts of Nepal and related countries, a "sacred garden" has been built around the birthplace of the Buddha: China, Austria, South Korea, Cambodia, Vietnam and other countries have built temples with their own national characteristics here, which are magnificent.
Lumbini and Kushinara, Bodh Gaya and Sarnath are listed as the four holy places of Buddhism. In 1997, Lumbini was listed as a World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO.
Affected by the new crown pneumonia epidemic, Lumbini Holy Garden has been closed since March 24. Due to the absence of tourists for a long time, the local tourism industry suffered heavy losses. Analysts said that the reopening of Lumbini Holy Garden will inject a boost to revitalize Nepal's national tourism industry. (Finish)
