Boudhanath

In the northeast of Kathmandu, Nepal, the magnificent white stupa, Boudhanath, is located, the largest spherical stupa in Nepal, and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. It takes about half an hour by bus from Ratna bus park in central Kathmandu. Boudhanath, briefly Boudha स्तुप, like other great Buddhist stupas, was designed based on the mandala. The overview above shows a huge mandala symbolizing Buddha's enlightenment.

Buddhist monks, tourists, Tibetans, and Nepalese circle the stupa clockwise each morning at sunrise, while spinning Manicha, the prayer wheels, or listening to Buddhist chants being played outside shops. Lots of Tibetan restaurants, stores, and monasteries are centered around it. There is no separation between the sacred and the profane.

Visitors enjoy the peaceful atmosphere, sitting in some of the temples and taking photos. The sound of bells rings through the air. Devotees burn incense around the stupa, and its scent permeates the surrounding area.

Pilgrims sit in meditation and prostrate themselves before the stupa, and every morning, offerings and prayers for the welfare of all sentient beings are performed. Scenes such as dogs lazing around and sleeping idly on the ground, and pigeons flocking to be fed or flying in the sky, also contribute to the peaceful atmosphere.

The earthquake struck Boudha and severely damaged the Boudhanath Stupa, along with much of the country's cultural heritage. The Buddhist community in Nepal did its best to restore the stupa, and it was finally reopened to the public on November 22, 2016. Jaeho stopped by Boudha in October 2017. It had been over 14 years since his previous visit. There were no visible signs of damage caused by the 2015 earthquake. Boudha and the prayer flags hanging from it, and waving in the wind, presented the same fascinating appearance as before.

The above sketches on the right and left were done in 2004.