Nepal-India Day 5: Lumbini to Shravasti

Dateline: 25 November 2025. With Lumbini behind us, it was time to begin the long overland journey around northern India. After an early lunch -- many in our group decided to revisit the Mayadevi Temple in the daytime but not us because we had already done so last May, we waited outside the Buddha Maya Garden Hotel to board the bus. Our Indian guide, Pankaj, had already cautioned us that the Sonauli border crossing could be unpredictable, and that delays were common.

The warning proved accurate. We watched with some perplexity as neighbouring queues formed and appeared to move faster than ours. Immigration formalities dragged on, and by the time everyone had cleared the Indian checkpoint, more than two hours had elapsed. From there, the road stretched westward for another 7½ hours, carrying us deep into Uttar Pradesh towards Shravasti. Our sole reason for coming to this otherwise unremarkable town was to visit the ruins of the Jetavana monastery, but by the time we arrived, darkness had long since settled. There was nothing left to do but head straight to the Tulip Inn Hotel, where we finally pulled in close to 11 o'clock at night.

A late but warm dinner awaited us, the hotel kitchen kept open in anticipation of our arrival, for which we were thankful. However, there was little opportunity to unwind after dinner. A quick bath, a brief search for clothes for the next day and then straight to bed. The wake-up call was set for 6.30am, followed by breakfast, checkout and yet another day on the road. Even as we turned in for the night, it was clear that the journey ahead would allow little breaks, carrying us forward whether we were ready or not.

Previous:
Nepal-India Days 3 and 4: The sala tree 
Nepal-India Days 3 and 4: Lumbini and Kapilvastu 

Nepal-India Days 1 and 2: Kathmandu and Nagarkot

Our guide, Pankaj, outside the Nepal Immigration Office

The long queue at the Indian Immigration Office