Description of the attraction
In the Bodnath district of Nepal, about 11 km northeast of the center of Kathmandu, you can see the temple complex of the same name, revered by Buddhists throughout the country. In its center is one of the largest stupas in Nepal and the whole world. It dates back to the 6th century. The influx of Tibetan refugees who fled their homes in the 1950s due to the Chinese occupation prompted the construction of around 50 gompi (special meditation sites) and Buddhist monasteries around the stupa. In 1979, the Bodnath stupa was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The stupa was built on an ancient trade route that connected Tibet with the Kathmandu Valley. In those days, the city of Kathmandu did not yet exist. Therefore, Tibetan merchants followed, bypassing the village of Sankha, to the Ka-Bahi stupa. At the Bodnath complex, they stayed for rest and prayer. The stupa is said to contain the remains of Buddha Kashyapa, the predecessor of Buddha Shakyamuni, revered by Buddhists and Hindus.
The stupa is built in the form of a mandala. Each of its architectural details symbolizes some element. The ancient stupa was destroyed during the 2015 earthquake. The government of Nepal has allocated funds for the restoration of the temple complex. During the reconstruction of the stupa, modern materials were used, which was not liked by the UNESCO staff.
Currently, the stupa is surrounded by a fence, in which prayer drums are mounted, which must be rotated when pronouncing mantras.
There is a fee to enter the Bodnath temple complex. Only those people who stayed in a small hotel located near the stupa can freely pass.
