Emperor Ashoka raised this sandstone pillar in 249 BCE to mark his pilgrimage — its Brahmi inscription is the oldest written evidence naming Lumbini as the Buddha's birthplace.
That a 2,300-year-old emperor's receipt still stands beside the spot it certifies is one of archaeology's quiet miracles. Look for the line "hida budhe jate" — "here the Buddha was born."
Erected
249 BCE
Height
6 metres
Script
Brahmi
Insider tip
Bring binoculars or zoom in — the inscription sits at eye height but reads better enlarged.
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