Its origins are lost in the mists of time and my attempts to get definitive information about who built it and when has
proven impossible. Some say 4th, some 5th, others the 14th
century. What is certain is its importance to the Buddhists
of Nepal and the many Tibetans who fled Tibet from 1958 and have built
their community in exile around it.
One of the most
important and largest Buddhist stupas in the world it has been a UNESCO
World Heritage site since 1979
For lovers of trivia:
Bouddhanath is also known as Khasti, or dew drops, as builders are said to
have used dew to mix the mortar because of a severe drought during
construction |