The Lumbini Museum
The Lumbini Museum stands at the entrance to the Sacred Garden in Lumbini, Nepal, the site Buddhist tradition holds as the Buddha’s birthplace. Built almost entirely in brick, the structure repeats its circular form at different scales, an oculus set inside an oculus, giving a humble material a quiet sense of weight through rhythm alone.
Famed Japanese architect Kenzo Tange was commissioned by a UN backed international committee in the early 1970s to draw up a masterplan for the entire site, and submitted his design for Lumbini in 1978.
Tange saw the visitor’s walk through Lumbini as a journey that echoed the Buddha’s own path, moving from the ordinary world through spaces of learning and reflection before arriving at the Maya Devi Temple, the point representing enlightenment itself. He never saw his full vision for Lumbini realised, passing away in 2005.
Nepal with Sri Lanka is a great combination trip as Sri Lanka has been named the world’s top trending wellness destination for 2026
Sri Lanka has been named the world’s top trending wellness destination for 2026, according to the latest State of Retreats 2026 Report released by BookRetreats. com.
The report ranked Sri Lanka first after recording a 100% year-on-year increase in search interest on the platform, ahead of Australia (85%), Morocco (83%), England (82%) and Spain (80%).
BookRetreats. com attributed Sri Lanka’s rise to its long-standing Ayurvedic tradition, affordability and natural attractions. It noted that wellness retreats in Kandy start from around US$373, making them significantly cheaper than similar experiences in Europe.
The report also highlighted Sri Lanka’s recent decision to waive tourist visa fees for visitors from 40 countries, saying the move has made wellness holidays on the island even more attractive.
In addition to wellness offerings, the report cited Sri Lanka’s wildlife, including the world’s largest gathering of wild elephants and opportunities to spot blue whales, as well as its year-round beach destinations, as key attractions for travellers.
Nepal
Nepal has declared 2027 as the Nepal Wellness Year, a year-long national campaign aimed at positioning the country as a premier destination for wellness tourism. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to integrate wellness into daily life and national development, emphasizing that wellness is not just a luxury but a necessity for a healthy, prosperous, and balanced society. The campaign includes a national wellness tourism strategy, a calendar of festivals, and a national accreditation scheme for retreats and practitioners. It aims to attract over 10,000 wellness tourists annually, generating USD 20–30 million in annual revenue. The year is marked by International Wellness Day, a special ceremony, and various wellness activities to celebrate Nepal’s leadership in global wellness tourism.