Private car 45 min–1 h
The paved Lumbini–Taulihawa road runs west through flat farmland and villages, reaching Taulihawa town in about 45 minutes; Tilaurakot is 3 km further north. A private car with a guide is the best way to combine Tilaurakot with Kudan, Gotihawa and Niglihawa in a half-day or full day, about 70–80 km in total. Narrow village roads lead to the smaller sites.
Local bus + auto 1.5–2 h
Local buses run from Lumbini Bazaar and Bhairahawa to Taulihawa several times a day. From Taulihawa bus park, autos and cycle rickshaws can take you to Tilaurakot and wait while you visit. It is cheap but slow, and reaching Kudan or Niglihawa as well requires negotiating a longer auto hire.
Bicycle 2–2.5 h each way
Experienced cyclists can ride the flat 27 km in the cool winter months, starting at dawn and riding back in the afternoon. The road carries buses and trucks, there is little shade, and there are only basic tea stalls on the way, so it suits fit riders only. Most visitors cycle within Lumbini and take a car to Tilaurakot.
Stops on the way
- Lumbini Bazaar (Mahilwar)
- Farm villages and mustard fields
- Taulihawa town
- Kudan (4 km south of Taulihawa)
- Niglihawa Ashoka pillar (7 km north-east of Taulihawa)
Visit Tilaurakot in the morning and Niglihawa on the way back, when late light falls on the pillar and the pond.
Questions travellers ask
How far is Kapilavastu from Lumbini?
Tilaurakot, the site Nepal identifies as ancient Kapilavastu, is about 27 km west of Lumbini, 45 minutes to an hour by car. Piprahwa, the alternative site in India, lies just across the border near Birdpur, roughly 16 km south-east of Tilaurakot as the crow flies, but foreign nationals can only cross at official points such as Sonauli.
Can I visit Tilaurakot by public transport?
Yes. Take a local bus from Lumbini Bazaar or Bhairahawa to Taulihawa, then an auto or rickshaw for the last 3 km to Tilaurakot. Buses run several times a day. Allow 1.5–2 hours each way, and agree the auto fare, including waiting time, in advance.
What else is near Tilaurakot?
Kudan, linked to the Buddha's meeting with his father, is about 4 km south of Taulihawa; Gotihawa, with an Ashoka pillar stump, is a few kilometres south-west; and Niglihawa's Ashoka pillar is 7 km north-east. All can be combined with Tilaurakot in a half-day by car.
How much does a car from Lumbini to Tilaurakot cost?
A private car with driver for a half-day trip to Tilaurakot and back costs roughly ₹3,500–4,500, and a full day covering all Kapilavastu sites with a guide about ₹6,500. Prices vary with season and fuel costs. Our Lumbini packages include this excursion.