Devdaha

In the Buddha's time the plains south of the hills were divided among clans. The Shakyas ruled from Kapilavastu; their neighbours and in-laws, the Koliyas, ruled from Devdaha. Maya Devi, the Buddha's mother, was a Koliya princess, and it was on her journey home to Devdaha to give birth that she stopped at Lumbini.

Family ties

After Maya Devi died soon after the birth, her sister Prajapati Gautami — also from Devdaha — raised Siddhartha, and later became the first Buddhist nun. Tradition also links Devdaha with Yashodhara, Siddhartha's wife. Buddhist texts say the Buddha visited Devdaha after his enlightenment.

What you see today

Devdaha is a spread-out area rather than a single monument: shrines such as those at Bhawanipur and Kanyamai, ponds, archaeological mounds and an old pakari (fig) tree venerated by pilgrims. Excavations continue, and new facilities are being built as Devdaha joins the Buddhist circuit.

On the circuit

Combine Devdaha with Lumbini (about an hour away), Ramgram and Tilaurakot for a full picture of the Buddha's homeland.