Kapilvastu

Kapilvastu is a modern-day district in Western Nepal. Its district headquarters is Taulihawa (est. population 30,000).

Understand
Kapilvastu is also the name of an ancient Kingdom of the Shakyas the royal family of Lord Buddha. There are many ancient archaeological sites situated in a 10 kilometer circle around Taulihawa, the modern district center of Kapilbastu District. Far fewer tourist visit the sites in Kapilvastu which can make a visit even more appealing. Below are some of these noteworthy sites.

By plane
Via Kathmandu to Bhairahawa Airport, about 40 km east of Taulihawa. It takes 45 minutes, and costs about $200 for foreigners and $115 for nationals. Carriers include Buddha Air, Yeti Air, 160 NRs airport tax applies for all domestic flights.

By bus
Via Delhi, Gorakpur, Sunauli, India/Belahiya, Nepal. 24 - 30 hours.

Via Kathmandu, Narayangarh/Bharatpur (var. Narayanghat), Butwal, Bhairahawa, Taulihawa. 8-10 hours.

Via Pokhara, Palpa/Tanzan, Butwal, Bhairahawa, Taulihawa (potholed, windy road, but beautiful views) 6 - 8 hours. Also Pokhara, Narayangarh/Bharatpur/Butwal, Bhairahawa (better road conditions). 6-8 hours.

By train
Via Delhi - Gorakpur. Transfer to narrow gauge track to Nautanwa. Transfer to taxi/bus/rickshaw to Sunauli, India (about 5 kilometers). Cross border to Belahiya and Nepal's Immigration. Transfer to bus/taxi rickshaw for 3 kilometers to Bhairahawa. Transfer to bus or taxi to Taulihawa. Total time approximately 14 - 20 hours. Another way: Gorakhpur to Shohrath Garh by train, Shohrat garh to Khunuwa to Toulihawa by bus or taxi.

Via Kolkata, Patna, Gorakpur. Transfer to narrow gauge track to Nautanwa. Transfer to taxi/bus/rickshaw to Sunauli, India (approximately 5 kilometers). Cross border to Belahiya, and Nepal's Immigration. Transfer to bus/taxi rickshaw for 3 kilometers to Bhairahawa. Transfer to bus / taxi to Taulihawa. Total time approximately 12 - 14 hours.

Get around
Rickshaws, local buses and taxis are available.

Tilaurakot Complex
Tilaurakot Fort Approximately 25 km east of Lumbini and about 4 km north of Taulihawa, the modern district center of Kapilbastu District (approx. 30,000 inhabitants), are the archaeological remains of Tilaurakot. Thought to have been the citadel complex of the larger surrounding Kapilvastu Kingdom, founded by Lord Buddha's father Śuddhodana, the chief of the Shakya nation. Excavations have revealed a considerable walled fortress, approximately 300 m long and 200 m wide, and containing exposed foundations of several building complexes. Historically, is said that Prince Siddhartha grew up and spent his early life inside Tilaurakot to the age of 29, oblivious of worldly miseries outside. He was married to Yashodhara and had a son named Rahula. Upon confronting worldly miseries such as disease, aging and death, outside Tilaurakot's gates, he escaped Tilaurakot Fort one night from its eastern gate, and rode eastward towards the jungles on his steed Kantaka, in search of enlightenment and in quest of answers to his questions about such miseries, pain and sufferings.

Tilaurakot Museum Some 150 m before Tilaurakot's western gate (the modern main entrance) lies a small, neglected, but quaint museum housing jewellery and other ornaments, coins, painted grey ware and northern black polished ware pottery, and toys excavated from the site dating between the 7th century BC and 4th century AD.

Kapilvastu Kingdom Complex
Gotihawa lies 5 km southwest of Taulihawa town and is considered the natal town of Krakuchanda Buddha. The place has ruins of ancient habitation, stupas and monasteries. The place was visited by Ashoka, as evidenced by a pillar with inscriptions. The pillar is broken with the upper part missing.

Araurakot lies about 9 km northeast of Tilaurakot. P.C. Mukheiji (1899) identified it as the natal town of Kanakmuni Buddha. It is a rectangular fortified area that contains a moat with heaps of ancient ruins.

Kundan is 2 km southwest of Taulihawa on way to Gotihawa. It is a beautiful protected garden area with large structural ruins of monasteries and stupas and with a tank nearby. This is considered the historical sight where Lord Buddha, returning after many years preached, and where his father, Śuddhodana, was converted to Buddhism.

Niglihawa 7 km northwest of Tilaurakot, was another site visited by Ashoka and marked with a pillar. The pillar is broken into two pieces. The standing base pillar has Ashokan inscription in Brahmi script and the upper pillar has Devanagari inscription marking Ripu Mai's visit in 1312 AD. There are ruins of monasteries, stupas and habitation. It is identified as ancient town of Sobhawati, birthplace of Kanakmuni Buddha.

Sagarhawa lies 3.5 km north of Tilaurakot and west of Banganga river. It is a rectangular depression. Excavations done in 1896 traced seventeen stupas and large monuments made from well-burnt bricks. Findings of casket and other rare antiquities indicate them to be votive stupas of the war dead. However, these stupas remain no more as they were excavated to their foundation without restoration.

Lumbini Garden and Lumbini Crane Sanctuary
Approximately 22 km east from Taulihawa is the sacred birthplace of Lord Buddha. The garden stretches one kilometer east west and 4 kilometers north south and besides having abundant bird and even some wild life, has an amazing collection over 20 nation's monasteries.

Village Tours
Several tour guide companies are offering village tours especially around Kapilvastu and Lumbini.

Birding/Bird Watching
In winter, the farmland in this area of the Terai is a mosaic of different crops and stubbles, with lowlands, small irrigation channels, streams, ponds and, away from towns, only scattered small villages, which often have very large, old trees used by roosting vultures and large water birds. The entire area is good for birds. But ask for wetland grassland area north of Lumbini called Khadara Phanta, which is particularly good for seeing the endangered Sarus Crane. Also, Jagdishpur Reservoir and Bird Sanctuary, at Niglihawa is considered nationally to be an important bird area in Kapilvastu District, about 7 km northwest of Kaplivastu (and nearly 30 km west from Lumbini).

Terai Trekking
A flat-landers version of mountain trekking. First performed in 1991 by two Peace Corps volunteers who walked from Bhairawaha, to Trivenighat, and on to Chitwan, some 70 km in three days via existing back roads, farm lands, forests and footpaths. It was their way of attempting to walk part of the path taken by Siddhartha (a 99–km Buddhist Via Dolorosa) who, after renouncing his princely life, escaped the fortress compound at Tilaurakot and rode his steed Kantaka east into the vast Eastern jungles beyond, after his Mother's Koliya Kingdom at Tribenighat. Other versions could be simply day walks from Bhairahawa to Lumbini and catching the bus back.

Palpali Brass
Search the bazaar in Taulihawa for good deals on famous Palpali brass wear such as kuruwa's diwas, and statuary still produced in Palpa in the hills north of Taulihawa.

Dhakiya
Small round baskets woven from rice straw by the women of this area. Beautiful colors and designs are found. Most village women don't think to sell it, as there are no local market, but if you ask they will sell, usually cheap if it is their first time selling.

Eat
Dukuti, Tharu special, local chicken and fish are all common meals.

Sleep
In Taulihawa:


 * Hotel Shankar, on the road to Tilaurakot, has really basic rooms for Rs 1000/1500.
 * Lumbini Hotel, on the road to Tilaurakot, has really basic rooms for Rs 200/300.
 * New Siddhartha Guest House, just north of Taulihawa on the road to Tilaurakot.

Go next

 * Lumbini – the birthplace of the Buddha is approximately east