Day 101 Monday 11 December, Chitwan to Lumbini, Nepal
Awaked before dawn to go on a bird watching walk but it starts to thunder and rain heavily. The staff are concerned that the river might be rising so after breakfast we head back to cross the river, this time with the tow rope at the ready, but reach the far bank without mishap. Then its a 150km straightforward drive to Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha and another World Heritage site.
After checking into the Maya Garden hotel (which is without power due to the thunder storms) we take a rickshaw round the ruins complex. There’s not that much to see, some walls and temple remains dating back to 300BC. Around the site there is a vast area called the Lumbini Development Zone in which various Buddhist countries are competing with each other to build the biggest and best temple. At present China is winning although South Korea is catching up with a monstrous edifice. Later we go for an excellent Japanese dinner at a deserted hotel in a torrential downpour.
After checking into the Maya Garden hotel (which is without power due to the thunder storms) we take a rickshaw round the ruins complex. There’s not that much to see, some walls and temple remains dating back to 300BC. Around the site there is a vast area called the Lumbini Development Zone in which various Buddhist countries are competing with each other to build the biggest and best temple. At present China is winning although South Korea is catching up with a monstrous edifice. Later we go for an excellent Japanese dinner at a deserted hotel in a torrential downpour.
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