Kapilavastu

Taulihawa, also known as Kapilavastu, is a municipality and administrative center of Kapilvastu District in Province No. 5 of southern Nepal. Taulihawa is located roughly to the south-west of Lumbini, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the birthplace of Gautama Buddha.The municipality lies at an altitude of above sea level on Nepal's southern border across from Uttar Pradesh state, India. There is a customs checkpoint for goods while movement of Indian and Nepalese nationals across the border is unrestricted. Taulihawa had a population of 27,170 at the time of the 2001 Nepal census.HistoryMany historians claim Tilaurakot located in Kapilavastu municipality (Taulihawa) to be the ancient city of Kapilavastu. On the other hand, some other archaeologists have identified present-day Piprahwa, India as the location for the historical site of Kapilavastu. The 19th-century search for the historical site of Kapilavastu followed the accounts left by Faxian and later by Xuanzang, who were Chinese Buddhist monks who made early pilgrimages to the site. Kapilavastu was an ancient city and the capital city of the Shakya kingdom. King Śuddhodana and Queen Māyā are believed to have lived at Kapilavastu, as did their son Prince Siddartha Gautama until he left the palace at the age of 29.