Boudanath Stupa, Kathmandu Nepal
Boudrianath is situated 8 km east of Kathmandu and built in 5th century AD by Lichchhavi King Mana Dev is on an octagonal base inset with prayer wheels. This colossal and ancient Stupa is one of the biggest in the world and has all the seeing eyes of Lord Buddha in four cardinal directions, keeping the eternal watch over the people and their doings.
This spherical Stupa is held in great veneration both by the Lam as of Nepal and Tibet.
The Buddhist stupa of Boudhanath dominates the skyline. The influx of large populations of refugees from Tibet has seen the construction of over 50 Tibetan Gompas (Monasteries) around Boudhanath. As of 1979, Boudhanath is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Along with Swayambhunath, it is one of the most popular tourist sites in the Kathmandu area. The Stupa is on the ancient trade route from Tibet which enters the Kathmandu Valley by the village of Sankhu in the northeast corner, passes by Boudnath Stupa to the ancient and smaller stupa of Cā-bahī (often called 'Little Boudnath').
It then turns directly south, heading over the Bagmati river to Patan - thus bypassing the main city of Kathmandu (which was a later foundation).[2] Tibetan merchants have rested and offered prayers here for many centuries. When refugees entered Nepal from Tibet in the 1950s, many decided to live around Boudhanath. The Stupa is said to entomb the remains of Kassapa Buddha.
