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YOUR FRIENDS' ACTIVITY

    Nepal luring tourists to Buddha's birthplace

    LUMBINI, Nepal (AP) — Nepal's president announced a campaign Saturday to lure hundreds of thousands of tourists and pilgrims this year to visit the area of the country where Buddha was born.

    President Rambaran Yadav said Nepal is eager to welcome both devotees of Buddha and peace believers to Lumbini, in southwestern Nepal, where Buddha is believed to have been born 2,555 years ago.

    "Let us spread peace not just in the country and among our people, but also in the world," Yadav said.

    Buddha was born in Lumbini as Prince Sidhartha. Followers believe he left his family and kingdom and meditated in the jungles of Nepal and India before achieving enlightenment.

    "Our campaign is to spread the message of brotherhood, love and compassion for world peace," said Karma Sangbo, a Buddhist monk coordinating the campaign.

    An estimated crowd of 3,000 gathered for the inauguration of the campaign Saturday at Lumbini Garden, which has been developed with trees, ponds and monasteries, and is a popular destination for Buddhists from all over the world.

    Organizers said they hope to get hundreds of thousands of visitors this year to Lumbini, which is about 150 miles (240 kilometers) southwest of the capital, Katmandu.

    There were no official figures available of how many visitors have come to Lumbini in previous years.

    Nepal has been trying to recover from a yearslong communist insurgency that chased away tourists who generally come to view the Himalayan mountain peaks or come as Hindu or Buddhist pilgrims. Even after the rebels gave up their armed revolt in 2006, political instability plagued the country.

    Nepal received about 800,000 visitors in 2011.

     

    12 comments

    • Yuki  •  4 mths ago
      That makes sense, make money off the Buddha...
    • sky glazing  •  4 mths ago
      to spread peace... the thrue religion of peace
    • think about it  •  4 mths ago
      maybe instead of building gardens for tourist, they could feed the starving people
    • carl l  •  Manila, Philippines  •  4 mths ago
      Great idea! Buddhism is a great religion of peace! It is good to encourage peace rather than war and intolerance like the Muslims!
    • Jagjit  •  4 mths ago
      Where is Mt Everest? I suppose the tall peaks inspired Buddha to preach peace.
    • Arnold  •  4 mths ago
      "Come to Nepal and watch the Burning Tibetan lights!"
    • sky glazing  •  4 mths ago
      it seems muzies rebels are eying Nepal like a second Pakistan or Kashmir etc etc.
    • SanJuanKid  •  4 mths ago
      And the clean, clear air of Nepal! Don't forget to mention that in the travel brochures.
    • rbtdude  •  4 mths ago
      Very interesting country. Well Buddha, you were born there, you died there, rest in peace.
      Your teachings mimic the author of life, but you were not and still are not the author of life it self, thats obvious. Id be more interested in a written report of Ghandi.
      • Eleatic Stranger 4 mths ago
        The Buddha was born in Lumbini, but he attained enlightenment in Bodh Gaya and died in the forests of Kushinagar - both in India; although fairly near Nepal.
      • Eleatic Stranger 4 mths ago
        Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi - note the spelling - was born in Porbandar, on the other side of India (the west coast).
      • Eleatic Stranger 4 mths ago
        The 4th place of Buddhist pilgrimage is Sarnath (the deer park), where Buddha first taught the Dharma and where the Sangha was started - also in India. The Buddha was born 2,555 years ago, Gandhi only 142 years ago. If Gandhi is still important in 2,400 years time, then we can say that you were not wrong.
    • James C  •  4 mths ago
      And I'll pay your air fare there. All you have to do is give me your personal information so that I can buy a $1,000,000 insurance policy on your stupid butt...
    • pierre  •  New Delhi, India  •  4 mths ago
      'To lure'? What a strange term! Wouldn't 'attract' be more fitting?
      • Dea 4 mths ago
        I had the exact same thought. Somebody needs a vocabulary refresher. Lure definiely has connotations.
      • preppylilkitten 4 mths ago
        haha, yeah, sounds like they are planning to kill people instead of just offering tours
    • pierre  •  New Delhi, India  •  4 mths ago
      ...and is Lumbini prepared for this stampede?
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