The vision for the Greater Lumbini Area

"It is a concern of humanity as a whole," says Kosh Prasad Acharya, a National expert in Archaeology, emphasizing Lumbini's relevance in today's world. Over time, studies and research have revealed that Lumbini is just one part of a pilgrimage circuit, connected by other significant historical sites such as Ramagrama and Tilaurakot-Kapilavastu, two adjacent sites which are also associated with Lord Buddha's life and included in the UNESCO Tentative List for World Heritage.

©Ira Block

With support from the Japanese government since 2011, UNESCO, in partnership with the Lumbini Development Trust (LDT) and the Department of Archaeology (DoA) under Nepal's Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation, has been spearheading archaeological excavations and conservation efforts in Lumbini and the Greater Lumbini Area (GLA). The vision to preserve the landscape, emblematic landmarks in the GLA, has guided the programme's evolution from a purely research-oriented program to adopting a holistic approach that preserves, promotes, and sustains the tangible and living heritages spanning an area of about 70*30 kilometres.

Groundbreaking discoveries have been made over the years. Excavations at Lumbini have, for the first time, revealed evidence of a structure dating back to the sixth century BCE, during the lifetime of Buddha. Excavations at the Tilaurakot-Kapilavastu Tentative List site have unveiled palatial compounds, water tanks dating back to the Mauryan period, residential suburbs, and one of the region's largest monasteries, among other finds from the period 900 BCE to 400 CE. Collectively, this represents the best-preserved early historic city and hinterland complexes in South Asia.

UNESCO Chair, Durham University

A management plan for Lumbini, including conservation and development guidelines, was prepared, and the Integrated Management Framework was adopted by the Government of Nepal in May 2022. Furthermore, the entire Sacred Garden was gazetted as a Protected Monument Zone, ensuring the highest level of protection based on the Ancient Monument Preservation Act. Dr. Kai Weise, a heritage management expert, highlighted the significance of these critical steps taken to safeguard the archaeological site and cater to visiting pilgrims. He emphasized the need for further collaboration with site managers and local authorities to implement management provisions and elaborate on various sector strategies.

GIS mapping has been conducted on 235 heritage sites within the Greater Lumbini Area, particularly in Kapilvastu and Rupandehi Districts. However, according to Professor Yukio Nishimura, an expert on Architecture and Urban Planning from Kokugakuin University in Japan, the work is far from complete, and the programme is at a crucial stage. Professor Nishimura believes that the landscape of Lord Buddha's life must be considered as a whole ensemble of heritage and as the basis for regional development, advocating for the inclusion of a much larger landscape, including Kapilavastu, within the programme's scope and development.

Despite these achievements, the persistent challenge lies in shielding the landscape from encroaching urbanization and haphazard development. Nevertheless, the potential economic benefits of preserving GLA are compelling, promising to uplift local communities through increased tourism and economic prosperity. Alongside the associated economic benefits, it is critical for local people, administrators, youth, and other stakeholders to participate and contribute to common objectives: conservation, promotion, and development of the area. "It is a constant challenge to defend the landscape from urbanization and unplanned development," explains Professor Coningham of the University of Durham, the programme's International Expert in Archaeology. The annual Tilaurakot-Kapilavastu Heritage Festival organized in Tilaurakot celebrates the region's tangible and living heritages, illustrating successful collaboration.

"Once GLA is properly mapped and preserved, visitors will not limit themselves to Lumbini alone but will start exploring these areas as well, uplifting the local people economically," adds Prof. Coningham. Therefore, the programme is committed to closely working with local communities for their intertwined present and future with Lumbini.

As the programme concludes, experts reflect with pride and emotion. While Professor Coningham declares the programme as the most impressive UNESCO program in South Asia, Mr. Acharya applauds Japan's long-term commitment through funding to preserve and protect the heritage of Lord Buddha.

46 (including 15 women) national officers and 261 (including 99 women) master's level students of Tribhuwan and Lumbini Buddhist Universities have received training in archaeological investigations and conservation in Lumbini and Tilaurakot.

This fourteen-year long intervention has not only unearthed some of the most crucial details of Lord Buddha's life but has also prompted partner organizations to come in to help protect both tangible and living heritages. Evolving over time, the programme has also contributed to improving livelihoods, promoting local artisans/craftspeople, and igniting a passion among the young generation to bear the responsibility to protect this ancient treasure and their heritage. The programme is reaching its conclusion, but much more work remains.

"We are in the middle of the long journey to our common goals," Professor Nishimura concludes.