Temple, monastery or heritage site
Tilaurakot
Ruins of an ancient walled city identified with Kapilavastu, where tradition says Siddhartha grew up.
Chitwan & Teraiगोटीहवा
Gotihawa
The stump of an Ashoka pillar and a brick stupa, linked by tradition with the Buddha Krakuchanda.
- Altitude
- -*
- Best months
- Oct-Mar
- Type
- Temple, monastery or heritage site
- District
- Kapilvastu, Lumbini
- Permit
- None needed
Higher seasonal exposure: heat (Apr-Jun).
Why go
Gotihawa is a small village and archaeological site in Kapilvastu district, south-west of Taulihawa, where the lower part of a broken Ashokan pillar stands beside the remains of a large brick stupa. Buddhist tradition associates the place with Krakuchanda, one of the Buddhas believed to have come before Gautama, and the site is often described as his birthplace or place of final passing.
The pillar stump carries no surviving inscription, so the identification rests on tradition and the accounts of Chinese pilgrims who described monuments to the earlier Buddhas in this region. Even so, Gotihawa forms an important stop on the pilgrimage circuit around ancient Kapilavastu.
Like the other sites around Taulihawa, Gotihawa is quiet and rural, with few facilities and wide views over the plains. It is best visited as part of a day circuit from Lumbini that also takes in Tilaurakot and Niglihawa, ideally early in the day before the heat builds.
History and culture
The Mauryan emperor Ashoka is believed to have honoured the sites of earlier Buddhas around Kapilavastu with stupas and pillars in the third century BCE. At Gotihawa only the base of the pillar remains, set in the ground beside the stupa mound.
Excavations have exposed parts of the brick stupa and recovered pottery and other objects. The village around the site is home to Madhesi and Tharu families, and the monument sits among farmland that has been cultivated for centuries. Visitors should remember that the site remains a place of devotion for Buddhist pilgrims, who sometimes leave flowers, lamps or prayer flags at the stupa, and should behave accordingly.
Things to do in Gotihawa
See the pillar and stupa
Walk around the stupa mound and the pillar base.
Pilgrimage circuit
Combine with Tilaurakot and Niglihawa on a day trip from Lumbini.
Village walk
Stroll through the surrounding village and farmland to see rural Terai life.
Weather and the best time to visit Gotihawa
Weather in Gotihawa
Conditions change fast in the mountains.
Weather data: MET Norway, licensed CC BY 4.0. A forecast, not a guarantee.
Best time to visit
Oct-Mar
- Good month: Jan
- Good month: Feb
- Good month: Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Good month: Oct
- Good month: Nov
- Good month: Dec
- Autumn (Sep-Nov)
- October and November are dry and settled, with warm days, cooler evenings and clear skies after the rains.
- Winter (Dec-Feb)
- December to February is dry and mild by day, but fog often hangs over the plains in the mornings and nights are chilly.
- Spring (Mar-May)
- March is pleasant; by April and May the plains become very hot and dusty.
- Monsoon (Jun-Aug)
- June to September brings heavy rain, high humidity, swollen rivers and occasional flooding of low ground and roads.
Where to stay
HotelsGuesthouses
Stay in Lumbini, Bhairahawa or Taulihawa.
No partner stays are listed here yet. List a property.
Getting there
Drive west from Lumbini to Taulihawa, then a short distance onward to Gotihawa.
Nearest hub: Lumbini
- roadBy hired car or taxi from Lumbini as part of a Kapilvastu day trip.
- roadFrom Taulihawa by local transport or hired vehicle.
Permits and fees
None needed
No permit is needed.
Verify before travel: permit rules and fees change. Checked 2026-10-08 against Gotihawa, Wikipedia.
Risks and conditions
Seasonal risks around Gotihawa
What this place is typically exposed to, and when. These are seasonal patterns, not a report on conditions now.
Heathigh in a typical yearApr-Jun
The open plain is very hot from April to June, and there is little shade at the site.
Floodingmoderate in a typical yearJul-Sep
Local roads can be muddy or flooded during the monsoon.
Check current conditions before you travel
Roads, trails, passes and flights change with the weather and with roadworks, and nothing on this page describes conditions today. Before you set off, check the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology for weather and flood warnings, the Nepal Disaster Risk Reduction Portal for incidents, and the local authority, police or your licensed operator for road, trail and flight status.
Practical tips
- Bring water and sun protection; facilities are minimal.
- Hire a driver familiar with the Kapilvastu sites.
- Visit early or late in the day for cooler temperatures.
Questions about Gotihawa
What is at Gotihawa?
The base of a broken Ashokan pillar and the remains of a brick stupa.
Which Buddha is linked with Gotihawa?
Buddhist tradition associates it with Krakuchanda, one of the Buddhas said to have preceded Gautama.
How do I get to Gotihawa?
By road from Lumbini via Taulihawa, usually on a day trip with Tilaurakot and Niglihawa.
Nearby
Temple, monastery or heritage site
Niglihawa
A broken Ashoka pillar beside an old pond, linked by its inscription with the Buddha Konagamana.
Temple, monastery or heritage site · 150 m
Lumbini
The birthplace of the Buddha in the Terai, a sacred garden with an Ashokan pillar, ringed by monasteries from across the Buddhist world.
Editorial draft: facts are being checked against the sources below. Last checked 2026-10-08. Sources: Gotihawa, Wikipedia, Pillars of Ashoka, Wikipedia, Kapilvastu District, Wikipedia