ABSTRACT
This chapter argues that the strong collective sentiment associated with Lumbini serves as an opportunity for Nepali visitors to reassert a boundary with the ‘Other’ of Nepali nationalism. Lumbini evoked a very strong nationalist sentiment when a Chinese project was proposed to develop it as a tourist hub. It would be illuminating to see how Nepalis understand and associate themselves with Lumbini and the innate values it evokes for them. The chapter investigates the narrative of Nepali visitors about their feelings in visiting the Lumbini heritage and examines the intersections between tourism and nationalism when a Chinese NGO proposed a project to invest $3 billion to develop it as a heritage tourism hub. Heritage plays a huge part in the construction and regulation of meaning and understandings and embodies a discourse. Expressions of Nepali nationalism have been intensively pursued through tourism promotional campaigns.
