List of stupas in Nepal explained

Stupas in Nepal date back to the Licchavi period; a stupa is a mound-like or hemispherical structure containing relics (such as śarīra – typically the remains of Buddhist monks or nuns) that is used as a place of meditation.[1] Swayambhunath is one of the oldest known buildings in the country and was likely built in the 5th century.[2] It was built in Swayambhu, Kathmandu, where the land was declared as sacred to Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha), by the 3rd Emperor of the Maurya Dynasty Ashoka the Great in the 3rd century BCE. According to the legends, the stupa came out of a sacred lotus at the centre of Kathmandu when the city was a lake.[3]

Ashoka's daughter Charumati, who married a Nepali prince, built Charumati Stupa in the 4th century.[4] [5] Boudhanath is one of the holiest sites in Nepal, it was closed for 18 months after the April 2015 Nepal earthquake, which completely destroyed the top part of the stupa.[6] After the Annexation of Tibet by the People's Republic of China, many refugees from Tibet started to settle in the area and convert it into a "Little Lhasa".[7] [8] Kaathe Swayambhu, a replica of the Swayambhunath that was built in 1650, is located near Thamel.[9] [10] In Lumbini, the place where, according to Buddhist tradition, Queen Mahamayadevi gave birth to the Buddha, there are several stupas including World Peace Pagoda, Myanmar Golden Temple, and Great Drigung Kagyud Lotus Stupa.[11]

The World Peace Pagoda was built by Japanese Buddhists for about US$1 million; near the stupa is the gravestone of a monk who was murdered by an anti-Buddhist group while the building was being built.[12] The Ramagrama stupa contains the relics of the Buddha and it remains untouched in its original form.[13] According to the legends, Ashoka came to the stupa with a plan to open it, however, when he got there a snake god ordered him "not to interfere with the site" so he started to worship the site.[14] Four stupas are recognised as a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

List of stupas

style="background:#c4d3ff;"
Denotes UNESCO Heritage Site
NameImageLocationCoordinatesEstablished
BoudhanathKathmandu27.7214°N 85.3619°W[15] [16]
Charumati StupaKathmandu27.7158°N 85.3458°W4th century[17] [18]
Lumbini27.4844°N 83.2724°W1998[19] [20]
Kaathe SwayambhuKathmandu27.709°N 85.309°W1650[21]
Mahabouddha StupaKathmandu27.705°N 85.31°W6th Century[22]
Myanmar Golden TempleLumbini27.4761°N 83.2778°W—[23]
Ramagrama StupaParasi27.4978°N 83.6811°W[24]
Shanti StupaPokhara28.2013°N 83.9455°W1947[25]
SwayambhunathKathmandu27.715°N 85.29°W5th century[26]
World Peace PagodaLumbini27.4992°N 83.2764°W2001[27] [28]
Dharmadhaatu StupaThahiti, Kathmandu27.71°N 85.311°W15th century

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Mark . Joshua J. . 1 September 2020 . Stupa . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200908160111/https://www.ancient.eu/stupa/ . 8 September 2020 . 8 September 2020 . World History Encyclopedia.
  2. Web site: Láscar. Jorge. 3 September 2020. Swayambhunath Stupa. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200908153242/https://www.ancient.eu/image/12653/swayambhunath-stupa/. 8 September 2020. 8 September 2020. World History Encyclopedia.
  3. Web site: Pant . Shaswat . Swayambhu: The eyes that keep watch over Kathmandu . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200909145202/https://english.onlinekhabar.com/swayambhu-the-eyes-that-keep-watch-over-kathmandu.html . 9 September 2020 . 9 September 2020 . OnlineKhabar . 13 October 2017 . en-GB.
  4. Web site: January 2004 . Charumati facelift . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200909121335/http://archive.nepalitimes.com/news.php?id=5194 . 9 September 2020 . 9 September 2020 . Nepali Times.
  5. Book: Regmī, Jagadīśacandra . Temples of Kathmandu . 1972 . Culture Centre . en . 1504633 . 9 September 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200909133354/https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=oJ8cAAAAMAAJ&q=Manju+Bahal&dq=Manju+Bahal&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiTsrbEl9zrAhVS-aQKHd5MDbQQ6AEwCXoECAkQAg . 9 September 2020 . live.
  6. Web site: 22 November 2016 . Nepal's earthquake-hit Boudhanath stupa reopens after restoration . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200909140832/https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2016/nov/22/nepals-earthquake-hit-boudhanath-stupa-reopens-after-restoration-private-donations . 9 September 2020 . 9 September 2020 . The Guardian . en.
  7. News: Sherwood . Seth . 4 February 2009 . In Frenetic Katmandu, Finding a Quiet Space . en-US . The New York Times . live . 9 September 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200909141432/https://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/08/travel/08journeys.html . 9 September 2020 . 0362-4331.
  8. Web site: Bhattarai . Sewa . 28 December 2018 . The stupa of a million dewdrops . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200908155954/https://www.nepalitimes.com/here-now/the-stupa-of-a-million-dewdrops/ . 8 September 2020 . 9 September 2020 . Nepali Times . en-US.
  9. Web site: Kathesimbhu Stupa . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200909142251/https://www.lonelyplanet.com/nepal/kathmandu/attractions/kathesimbhu-stupa/a/poi-sig/386945/357144 . 9 September 2020 . 9 September 2020 . Lonely Planet . en.
  10. News: Aryal . Suprasanna . 22 May 2013 . Amidst Fluttering Prayer Flags . Friday . live . 9 September 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200909142857/http://fridayweekly.com.np/uploads/issue/pdf/frday_issue_170.pdf . 9 September 2020.
  11. Web site: Lumbini, the Birthplace of the Lord Buddha . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200909144335/https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/666 . 9 September 2020 . 9 September 2020 . UNESCO World Heritage Centre . en.
  12. Web site: World Peace Pagoda . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200908120414/https://www.lonelyplanet.com/nepal/the-terai-and-mahabharat-range/lumbini/attractions/world-peace-pagoda/a/poi-sig/481218/357154 . 8 September 2020 . 9 September 2020 . Lonely Planet . en.
  13. Web site: Kandel. Prakriti. 22 March 2019. The Buddha was born in Lumbini. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200908155127/https://www.nepalitimes.com/banner/the-buddha-was-born-in-lumbini/. 8 September 2020. 8 September 2020. Nepali Times. en-US.
  14. Web site: Ramagrama Stupa . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200908154104/https://visitworldheritage.com/en/buddha/ramagrama-stupa/c0b00737-7dd2-4817-9449-0ff69f78125a . 8 September 2020 . 9 September 2020 . World Heritage Journeys.
  15. Book: Gutschow, Niels . 1997 . The Nepalese Caitya: 1500 Years of Buddhist Votive Architecture in the Kathmandu Valley . Edition Axel Menges . 92 . 9783930698752 . 8 April 2014 . 8 April 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140408220846/http://books.google.com.np/books?id=IQp_957RRtAC&q=92#v=snippet&q=92&f=false . live .
  16. Web site: Boudhanath Stupa . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200908120825/https://www.lonelyplanet.com/nepal/around-the-kathmandu-valley/bodhnath-boudha/attractions/boudhanath-stupa/a/poi-sig/1172098/357115 . 8 September 2020 . 8 September 2020 . Lonely Planet . en .
  17. Book: DHARLO, Nyanang Bhusepa Rinchen . The Buddhist Holy Sites of Nepal: The Songs of Marvelous Conversation . 1 January 2020 . Library of Tibetan Works and Archives . 978-93-87023-96-3 . en . 8 September 2020 . 9 September 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200909120720/https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=33r3DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA58 . live .
  18. Book: Huntington . John C. . The Circle of Bliss: Buddhist Meditational Art . Bangdel . Dina . 2003 . Serindia Publications, Inc. . 978-1-932476-01-9 . en . 8 September 2020 . 9 September 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200909120613/https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=l3KmWbcq5foC&pg=PA30 . live .
  19. Book: McDaniel, Justin Thomas. Architects of Buddhist Leisure: Socially Disengaged Buddhism in Asia's Museums, Monuments, and Amusement Parks. 1 April 2017. University of Hawaii Press. 978-0-8248-7440-7. en. 8 September 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200909153349/https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=kPLGDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA70. 9 September 2020. live.
  20. News: 2 February 2020. Exotic sites and wild creatures. 8 September 2020. Bangkok Post.
  21. Book: Weismantel, Julia . Kathmandu lieben lernen: Der perfekte Reiseführer für einen unvergesslichen Aufenthalt in Kathmandu inkl. Insider-Tipps, Tipps zum Geldsparen und Packliste . 21 July 2020 . BoD – Books on Demand . 978-3-7519-7362-5 . de . 8 September 2020 . 8 September 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200908122047/https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=XmHyDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT60&dq=Kaathe+Swayambhu&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiewaXpxdnrAhVS3aQKHV3JB54Q6wEwAHoECAQQAQ#v=onepage&q=Kaathe%20Swayambhu&f=false . live .
  22. Book: Rough Guides. 978-1-85828-899-4. Reed. D.. McConnachie. J.. The Rough Guide to Nepal. Music rough guide. 2002.
  23. Web site: Turner. Elen. 24 January 2020. 10 Architectural Treasures to Visit in Nepal. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200908122611/https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/architectural-treasures-to-visit-in-nepal. 8 September 2020. 8 September 2020. Architectural Digest. en-us.
  24. Web site: Votive stupa. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200908160552/https://www.asisarnathcircle.org/votive.php. 8 September 2020. 8 September 2020. Archaeological Survey of India.
  25. News: J Das . Hengul . World Peace Pagoda . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200908122113/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/travel/pokhara/world-peace-pagoda/ps57788665.cms . 8 September 2020 . 8 September 2020 . The Times of India .
  26. Book: Majupuria . Trilok Chandra . Glimpses of Nepal: Ancient & Modern Glories of a Charming Country . Majupuria . Indra . 1979 . Maha Devi . en . 475316611 . 8 September 2020 . 8 September 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200908120523/https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=jDNuAAAAMAAJ&q=Swayambhunath+height&dq=Swayambhunath+height&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjRq6SuwtnrAhXL3KQKHeoLBX4Q6wEwAXoECAAQAQ . live .
  27. Book: Reed, David . The Rough Guide to Nepal . 2002 . Rough Guides . 978-1-85828-899-4 . en . 8 September 2020 . 9 September 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200909153347/https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=lcbUIOTcE18C&pg=PA359 . live .
  28. Web site: World Peace Pagoda. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200908122216/https://visitworldheritage.com/en/buddha/world-peace-pagoda/74ad2d8b-657a-49fb-b20e-81277b6d4186. 8 September 2020. 8 September 2020. World Heritage Journeys.

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