Idea #771 – Watching Nepal’s largest stupa at Bodnath
Bodnath, also called Buddhanath, is one of the major Buddhist shrines in the Kathmandu region of Nepal. The Stupa which occupies the main square is said to have been erected in the 12th century. It is recognized as the largest stupa in Nepal and one of the largest in the world.
The base of the stupa consists of three terraces, representing a giant mandala, which devotees can walk through. It is decorated with 108 niches, each containing a Buddha statue. The base is dominated by a harmika, a square tower which bears the eyes of the Buddha; the tower bears a cover in the form of an elongated pyramid, composed of 13 degrees which represent the path to enlightenment.
The influx of more than 10,000 refugees from Tibet to Bodnath after the flight of the 14th Dalai Lama in 1959, led to the construction of around fifty “gompas”, ie monasteries. They testify to the religious importance of this site, closely linked to the founding of Lhasa because it is located on the old trade route linking this city to the Kathmandu valley. Bodnath is one of Kathmandu’s sites included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Some Pictures
Where is it ?
Bodnath Temple, Nepal
