Lumbini, my Birthplace   
      
   Greetings. I am Siddhartha Gautama, the Lord Buddha. I was born in 623 BC in   
   the sacred area of Lumbini located in the Terai plains of southern Nepal,   
   testified by the inscription on the pillar erected by the Mauryan Emperor   
   Asoka in 249 BC. Lumbini is    
   one of the holiest places of one of the world's great religions, and its   
   remains contain important evidence about the nature of Buddhist pilgrimage   
   centres from as early as the 3rd century BC. The complex of structures within   
   the archaeological    
   conservation area includes the Sakya Tank; the remains within the Maya Devi   
   Temple consisting of brick structures in a cross-wall system dating from the   
   3rd century BC to the present century and the sandstone Ashoka pillar with its   
   Pali inscription in    
   Brahmi script. Additionally there are the excavated remains of Buddhist   
   viharas (monasteries) of the 3rd century BC to the 5th century AD and the   
   remains of Buddhist stupas (memorial shrines) from the 3rd century BC to the   
   15th century AD. The site is    
   now being developed as a Buddhist pilgrimage centre, where the archaeological   
   remains associated with my birth form a central feature. As my birthplace,   
   testified by the inscription on the Asoka pillar, the sacred area in Lumbini   
   is one of the most holy    
   and significant places for one of the world’s great religions. The   
   archaeological remains of the Buddhist viharas (monasteries) and stupas   
   (memorial shrines) from the 3rd century BC to the 15th century AD, provide   
   important evidence about the nature of    
   Buddhist pilgrimage centres from a very early period. The integrity of Lumbini   
   has been achieved by means of preserving the archaeological remains within the   
   property boundary that give the property its Outstanding Universal Value. The   
   significant    
   attributes and elements of the property have been preserved. The buffer zone   
   gives the property a further layer of protection. Further excavations of   
   potential archaeological sites and appropriate protection of the   
   archaeological remains are a high    
   priority for the integrity of the property. The property boundary however does   
   not include the entire archaeological site and various parts are found in the   
   buffer zone. The entire property including the buffer zone is owned by the   
   Government of Nepal    
   and is being managed by the Lumbini Development Trust and therefore there is   
   little threat of development or neglect. However the effects of industrial   
   development in the region have been identified as a threat to the integrity of   
   the property. The    
   authenticity of the archaeological remains within the boundaries has been   
   confirmed through a series of excavations since the discovery of the Asoka   
   pillar in 1896. The remains of viharas, stupas and numerous layers of brick   
   structures from the 3rd    
   century BC to the present century at the site of the Maya Devi Temple are   
   proof of Lumbini having been a centre of pilgrimage from early times. The   
   archaeological remains require active conservation and monitoring to ensure   
   that the impact of natural    
   degradation, influence of humidity and the impact of the visitors are kept   
   under control. The property continues to express its Outstanding Universal   
   Value through its archaeological remains. The delicate balance must be   
   maintained between conserving the    
   archaeological vestiges of the property while providing for the pilgrims. The   
   property site is protected by the Ancient Monument Preservation Act 1956. The   
   site management is carried out by the Lumbini Development Trust, an autonomous   
   and non-profit    
   making organization. The entire property is owned by the Government of Nepal.   
   The property falls within the centre of the Master Plan area, the planning of   
   which was initiated together with the United Nations and carried out by Prof.   
   Kenzo Tange between    
   1972 and 1978. The long-term challenges for the protection and management of   
   the property are to control the impact of visitors, and natural impacts   
   including humidity and the industrial development in the region. A Management   
   Plan is in the process of    
   being developed to ensure the long-term safeguarding of the archaeological   
   vestiges of the property while allowing for the property to continue being   
   visited by pilgrims and tourists from around the world.   
      
   Sakyamuni Buddha   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)