Thaksin Visits Lumbini

Thailand’s former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra visited Lumbini, the birth place of Gautam Buddha, and performed worship as per the Buddhist tradition on December 17, 2011. The former Thai leader arrived in Kathmandu a day earlier on a chartered flight from Myanmar.

Shinawatra visited the Mayadevi Temple, where a marker stone has been kept at the place where Siddhartha Gautam was born, and observed the archaeological and historical sites including the Ashoka Pillar.

He visited the Thai Royal Monastery built by Thailand and distributed blankets to the common people there.


Along with his group, the Thai leader who is currently living in exile after he was removed from power in 2006 spent two hours in Lumbini. Officials of the Lumbini Development Trust informed Shinawatra about the site.

A team of Nepal Police officials led by a deputy superintendent of police is providing security to the Thai group.

An 11-member team including Sinawatra and Thai ambassador to Nepal Maria Sangiampongsa reached Lumbini yesterday evening. The visitors used two vehicles of the Thai Royal Monastery.

Secretary member of Lumbini Fund Rajendra Thapa Magar said he did not know about Shinawatra’s visit. Shinawatra returned Kathmandu at 3:10 am on Saturday by an Yeti Airlines to fly back to Myanmar