Is Lumbini worth the trip?
Lumbini can be meaningful if Buddhist history is part of why you are in Nepal. For travellers short on time, it is a long detour that should not be added out of guilt.
Answer
Lumbini is not the kind of stop that should be judged only by spectacle. Its value depends on whether the birthplace of the Buddha, pilgrimage atmosphere and wider monastic zone matter to you. For some travellers, that makes the detour deeply worthwhile. For others, it can feel like a long journey to a place they respect more than enjoy. This is especially true on short routes where time is being taken from Kathmandu Valley, Pokhara or a trek. Add Lumbini deliberately, not as a moral obligation or a map-balancing exercise. Nepal has enough meaning without every traveller needing the same sacred-site checklist.