World Peace Pagoda, Lumbini
Last updated: 25
Aug
2022

Buddhist Stupas in Nepal – The relics of the Buddha

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Origin of Buddhist Stupas in Nepal

in Nepal date back to the Licchavi period.

is one of the oldest known buildings in the country and was likely built in the 5th century.

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.

Ashoka’s daughter Charumati, who married a Nepali prince, built in the 4th century.

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.

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”.

Kaathe Swayambhu, a replica of the Swayambhunath that was built in 1650, is located near Thamel.

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.

The Ramagrama stupa contains the relics of the Buddha and it remains untouched in its original form.

List of historical Buddhist stupas in Nepal

Four stupas are recognized as a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

This is a list of historical Buddhist stupas in Nepal.

Swayambhunath

Swayambhunath is an ancient religious architecture atop a hill in the Kathmandu Valley, west of Kathmandu city. The Tibetan name for the site means ‘Sublime Trees’, for the many varieties of trees found on the hill. Also known as the “Monkey Temple” among visitors from abroad, Swayambhunath sits atop its hill, overlooking most parts of the valley

Boudhanath

Bouddha, also known as Boudhanath, Khasti Chaitya and Khāsa Chaitya is a stupa in Kathmandu, Nepal. Located about 11 km (6.8 mi) from the center and northeastern outskirts of Kathmandu, its massive mandala makes it one of the largest spherical stupas in Nepal and the world.

Charumati Stupa

Charumati Stupa (also known as Chabahil Stupa, and Dhan Dhoj Stupa) is a stupa in Kathmandu, Nepal.

It was built by Charumati, daughter of the Indian emperor Ashoka, in the 4th century.

In 2003, Charumati Stupa was restored by the locals as it was crumbling due to the “heavy vehicular traffic on the nearby road”.

During its restoration process countless artefacts, coins, and manuscripts were found possibly dating back to the Licchavi era.

Kaathe Swyambhu

Kaathe Swayambhu, 1650AD, a miniature replica of Swayambhunath stupa

Kaathe Swayambhu Shree Gha Chaitya is a miniature replica of Swayambhunath. It was built around 1650AD and is one of the popular Tibetan pilgrimage site in Kathmandu, Nepal. The stupa is also called Shree Gha-Shanti Ghat Bhajradhatu Mahachaitya or Kathesimbhu stupa or Kashi Swayambhu.

Shanti Stupa – Pokhara

Pokhara Shanti Stupa is a Buddhist pagoda

Pokhara Shanti Stupa is a Buddhist monument on Anadu Hill of the former Pumdi Bhumdi Village Development Committee, in the district of Kaski, Nepal.

World Peace Pagoda – Lumbini

World Peace Pagoda, Lumbini

World Peace Pagoda, also called Nipponzan Peace Pagoda, is a Buddhist monument in Lumbini, Nepal.

It was designed and built by Japanese Buddhists. The Pagoda acts as the starting point on the central axis of the Lumbini Master Plan, the other end being the Mayadevi Temple. The distance from the pagoda to the temple is about 3.2 km.

The stairs in stupa lead to three different levels. The stupa is whitewashed and the floor is stone-paved. It has four large golden statues of Buddha facing four directions.

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