Kapilvastu - Buddhist Pilgrimage Sites in Nepal

Kapilvastu is the ancient Shakya Kingdom, belonging to the royal family of prince Siddhartha. It is also known as modern Piprahwa in the Lumbini zone of Nepal and the holy Buddhist centre globally. Kapilvastu witnessed the childhood and early life of the Buddha in the royal palace.

Location

The city is located 27km south of Lumbini, Nepal.

How to Reach Kapilvastu, Nepal

• By Air – Visitors have 2 options- Take a flight to Kathmandu, Nepal which is 262km away from Kapilvastu. Or, opt for a shorter route by taking a flight to Gorakhpur, India at a distance of 110km from the destination. From there one can take up roadway or railway to reach Kapilvastu.
• By Train – The nearest railway station to Kapilvastu is Naugarh, at a distance of 20km. From Naugarh one can take the road journey to Kapilvastu.
• By Bus – Road to Kapilvastu is connected to all other major places India and Nepal. visitors can be reached by taking a coach, bus or private taxi.

Accommodation

• Royal Retreat – This hotel is located at a distance of 14km from Kapilvastu. The rooms are well equipped with several modern facilities and one can enjoy variety of dishes at the on-site restaurant.
• Hotel Satkar Palce – This hotel is located just 1km away from railway station at Siddharth Nagar and 22km away from Kapilvastu. The hotel offers a range of choice in accommodation. It has a multi cuisine resataurant, which serves culinary delights round the clock and also holds a coffee shop.

What/Where To Eat

Hotel ‘The Royal Retreat’ at Mohana and Hotel Satkar Siddhartha Nagar, have statndard restaurant facilities.

Tourist Places to Visit in Kapilvastu

Kapilvastu is the primary archaeological location and for this reason it is one of the most frequently visited tourist destinations in Nepal. The main archaeological site of Kapilvastu excavated in 1973-1974, the stupa complex is a major source to go to back to the Buddhist glorious past. However, even for mere archaeological reasons, there are many stupas scattered around the place, built by the Ashoka and the Gupta kings.

The seals and inscriptions found from this place refers to the golden age of Buddhism owing to the patronage provided by an Indian ruler, Kanishka. The symbol left behind by the Sakya dynasty is clearly visible here The tourist attraction in kapilvastu are innumearable and the beauty and charm of kapilvastu are sure to capative all kinds of tourists.

Lumbini – the birthplace of Buddha, at a distance of 27km from Kapilvastu and one of the major holy places for the Buddhist around the world.

When to Visit

It is accessible to tourists for most time of the year. However the best time to spend a fulfilling holiday in Kapilvastu is during the winter time (October to April). At this time of the year, the weather is pleasant and ideal for sightseeing.

Excavations by Archaeological Survey of India have revealed the relation of this place to the Kushan period. An excavated stupa bears text that proves the existence of an ancient monastery named Devaputra in this place. Two mounds have also been excavated at only a little distance from this village which, is considered to be the ruins of King Suddhodhana’s palace. The tourist attraction in kapilvastu are innumearable and the beauty and charm of kapilvastu are sure to capative all kinds of tourists.