Lumbini is the birthplace of Siddhartha Gautama — the Buddha — and one of the holiest sites in Buddhism, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The sacred garden contains the Maya Devi Temple built over the exact birth spot, an Ashoka Pillar erected by Emperor Ashoka in 249 BC, and the sacred pond where the Buddha's mother bathed before giving birth. Surrounding the garden is the Lumbini Development Zone, where more than 30 Buddhist nations have built monasteries ranging from a gilded Thai temple to a stark Japanese peace pagoda.