The Bodhnath Stupa in Kathmandu

The eight eyes of Buddha look in the four cardinal directions

Wednesday, February 21                                                               Nepal

At 8 AM this morning,  we loaded up on busses to visit the Bodhnath stupa for an hour.  Also 
known as the Boudhanath Stupa, it is the largest stupa in Nepal and the holiest Tibetan 
Buddhist temple outside Tibet. It is the center of Tibetan culture in Kathmandu and much of it's construction references Buddhist symbolism. 

Eighteen months after the 2015 earthquake in Nepal, this was the first major sacred site to be 

rebuilt, as the gold tower was especially damaged. One of the largest of its kind, the 
Boudhanath stupa was repaired with private donations from Buddhist groups and 

help from local volunteers.

Believed to have been built in the 14th century, Boudhanath was shaken by the 7.8 magnitude

earthquake that shook Kathmandu and killed almost 9,000 people and displaced millions. 

The white stupa was largely spared, but the gold spire that sits atop the dome was severely 

damaged.

Local and foreign donors contributed more than $2M to restore the structure, as well as

31kg of gold, which covers the structure’s pinnacle, including 13 steps that represent the Buddhist 
path to enlightenment.

Buddhist pilgrims traverse the circle of the stupa in clockwise motion

Prayer beads (108) are used while walking in meditation

Shops and stores surround the stupa

After the fall of Tibet to Communist China, in the 1950s, Kathmandu has become home for many

Pigeons in flight

Thousands of prayer beads for sale, of any material one might desire

View of Stupa as we fly to Paro, Bhutan - shaped like a mandala

Mandala from the school in Bhaktapur - looks like the Bodhnath Stupa from the air.