Sonauli - has anyone stayed there?

mjball

As we are going overland from Pokhara to Varanasi, we would like to stop half way (possibly at Sonauli (spelling?)). Are there any towns close by which have great culture or is it better to stay in Sonauli itself - in case I have the spelling totally wrong, it is the place near the border which buses come and go from...THANKS!!

Ben

Lumbini, Buddha's birthplace 20 km from Sunauli, is a much better choice.

vistet

In this case , let Buddha be your tourist guide :

"O monks, after my passing there are four places which sons and daughters of good family who possess faith should visit and recollect for as long as they live. What are the four ? Here the Lord took birth. Here.. "

Lumbini, seen as the birthplace of the Buddha , is an important pilgrimage site for Nepalis and Tibetans. The last decades there also has been a growing number of longway visitors. The are regular guesthouses as well as dharamsalas (pilgrims rest houses) .
You reach Lumbini from Bhairawa, just north of Sonauli. There are regular buses for the 22 km ride.
All this is armchair traveling, haven`t been there myself. The quote is from Gedun Choepels Guide to India, a Tibetan pilgrimage handbook from the 30`s . The maps from this book is still sold to Tibetan pilgrims at Bodh Gaya.

Alan D

I've stayed in Sonauli a few times. The place has very little to offer apart from a bed for the night before you travel on. I have never been to Lumbini but it has to be an improvement on Sonauli. I have also noticed there are some nice looking hotels near the bus station in Bhairawa.