By Our Correspondent,Bhairahawa, Sept. 26: The Lumbini Development Trust (LDT) has increased the entrance fee for Mayadevi Temple in Lumbini, contrary to a verdict of the Supreme Court and the requests of the stakeholders.

A meeting of the LDT on August 14 decided to increase the entrance fee effective from September 18. As a result, the entrance fee for tourists from India, South Asia, and third-world countries, including Nepali citizens, has gone up. 

The fee for tourists from India  has increased to Rs. 80 from  Rs. 40. Similarly, the entrance fee for tourists from other South Asian countries and third-world countries has increased to Rs. 400 from Rs. 300 and Rs. 800 from Rs. 600, respectively.

Sanuraja Shakya, member secretary of the LDT, said that due to the rising cost of living in the country, they had to increase the entrance fee. 

The LDT has begun charging entrance fees to visitors of Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha, since 2008. However, a local, Dilip Baniya, filed a writ against the decision in the Supreme Court. Later, the court gave a verdict against the decision to charge the entrance fees. Despite the decision, the LDT had charged a fee for tourists, except for Nepali citizens.

In the meantime, a meeting held on May 15, 2018, under the chairmanship of former Tourism Minister Rabindra Adhikari, decided to implement the entrance fee for Nepali citizens as well, effective from August 17 of the same year. Many locals have not been happy with the decision to pay a fee to offer worship at the Mayadevi temple.