Boudhanath Stupa Nepal

Bouddhanath is the center of Tibetan culture in Nepal. The 36-meter-high stupa of Bouddhanath is one of the largest stupas in South Asia. Bouddhanath Stupa was renovated by Licchavi rulers in the eighth century. The mandala design in Bouddhanath is a copy of the one in Gyangtse in Tibet.

The stupa is located in the area of ancient trade route to Tibet where Tibetan merchants rested and offered prayers for many centuries. When refugees entered Nepal from Tibet in the 1950s, many decided to live around Bouddhanath. Hence, a complete township has developed around Bouddhanath. The stupa is said to entomb the remains of a Kasyap sage venerable both to Buddhists and Hindus. Smaller stupas are located at the base. Gompa monasteries, curio shops, and restaurants surround Bouddhanath.

Because of its location and size, it seems much larger than the Swayambunath Stupa, with the same hemi-spherical dome symbolizing the emptiness from which everything emanates. On top is the harmika painted on each side with the eyes of the Buddha symbolizing awareness, and above the spire with its 13 stages to the canopy. At ground level there is a brick wall with 147 niches and 108 images of the meditational buddha inset behind copper prayer wheels. Early morning and evening are the times to visit Bouddha to join the local residents in kora (walking the pilgrim's circuit, sometimes with Tibetan pilgrims on their hands and knees).

History of Boudhanath Stupa
The primary stupa at Boudhanath was fabricated at some point after 600 AD, when the Tibetan ruler, Songtsen Gampo, changed over to Buddhism. Regarding elegance and virtue of line, no other stupa in Nepal approaches Boudhanath. From its whitewashed vault to its overlaid pinnacle painted with the all-powerful eyes of the Buddha, the landmark is impeccably proportioned. Join the Tibetan travelers on their morning and night koras (circumambulations) for the best experience.

As indicated by legend, the ruler developed the stupa as a demonstration of compensation after accidentally slaughtering his dad. The primary stupa was destroyed by Mughal intruders in the fourteenth century, so the present stupa is much more developed. The profoundly symbolic construction serves basically as a three-dimensional reminder of the Buddha's way towards illumination. The plinth speaks to earth, the Kumbha (arch) is water, the Harmika (square pinnacle) is fire, the tower is air and the umbrella at the best is the void or ether past space. The 13 dimensions of the tower speak to the phases that a person must go through to accomplish nirvana.

Stupas were initially built to house holy relics and some case that Boudhanath contains the relics of the past Buddha, Kashyapa, while others state it contains a bit of bone from the skeleton of Siddhartha Gautama, the authentic Buddha. Around the base of the stupa are 108 little pictures of the Dhyani Buddha Amitabha (108 is an auspicious number in Tibetan culture) and a ring of petition wheels, set in gatherings of four or five into 147 specialties.

To achieve the upper dimension of the plinth, search for the portal at the north end of the stupa, close to a little hallowed place devoted to Hariti (Ajima), the goddess of smallpox. The plinth is open from 5 am to 6 pm (till 7 pm in summer), offering a raised perspective over the tide of explorers flooding around the stupa. Note the submitted devotee prostrating themselves full-length on the ground in the patio on the east side of the stupa.