Bouddhanath Stupa

Boudhanath is considered as a stupa or a Buddhist religious heritage, situated in Kathmandu, Nepal. The stupa can be simply recognized by, a hemispherical structure containing relics with white dome including determined eyes coloured on each side gazing towards the four different directions. It is known to be the most sacred and largest Tibetan Buddhist site outside of Tibet itself. It is utilized as a place of meditation by the Buddhist. This is Asia’s largest Buddhist Stupa considered as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Visitors here must be much aware that Kathmandu valley has seven UNESCO World heritage sites and Boudhanath is one of them

The actual history of the Boudhanath stupa is still unrevealed. The numbers of myths have taken away its creations till the present days. Among the diverse myth, one story claims that an old woman was moved to build a Buddhist shrine here centuries ago. The woman convinced the king to give her some land as a property, which was denied by the king. However, the Bodhisattvas compelled him to go with the proposal of a woman. Now a woman started to build, but could only complete up to the vase, the dome-like structure before her death. However, the remaining work was completed by her four sons. After the completion, they all stood up in front of it and made prayers. Everyone there created a wish. When these sons were praying, all the Buddha’s and bodhisattvas absorbed into the stupa, which is why the name of the stupa is also “All-Encompassing.”

The stupa was believed to be built in the 14^th century after the Mughal Empire of West Asia and India invaded the Nepali territories according to the Historians who have worked with this site. However, we also cannot deny that Buddhist shrines and monuments may have existed in this area long before the construction of the current stupa.

Due to the massive earthquake of April 2015, it has caused massive destruction. Due to its severe effect, the overall structure of the stupa above the dome had to be removed. However, the stupa is still in the construction process which will be complete very soon and take its real image.

Flags of the stupa – We can find the battering colours in the stupa here. Battering colours in the sense, one can find the whitewashed dome and piercing Buddha eyes painted on all four sides. The stupa consists of coloured prayer flags five in each set: These five colours flags are arranged from left to right in a specific order: blue, white, red, green, and yellow. The five colours denote the five elements and the Five pure lights.

Tamang Gompa – Tamang Gompa also known as Gurung Lakhang Monastery located just opposite to the main Stupa, is one of the most visited monasteries in the area of Boudhanath stupa. With an attractive, three-layered structure it is worth experiencing and exposing. There is a squared-off area with a huge near floor to roof prayer wheel inside at the left side before the main entrance of the monastery. The main prayer hall is here. One can see the walls are filled with murals with Tibetan symbolism above the stairs.

Additional Information

• After taking the round of Boudhanath stupa ie 150 meters one can just feel relax to sit on the benches, observing the view out there and enjoying the smell of incense burning of the stupa.
• In case the monks are not praying or meditating one can also ask their short time to be more
• Moreover one can also exploit their time through meditation in that soothing environment
• The stupa is surrounded by shops, hotels and restaurants with wide pedestrian for tourist and pilgrim.
• One can also see the people feeding a pigeon which is quite refreshing.