write a diary on a visit to Buddha stupa
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At the heart of the busy streets of Kathmandu is the monumental Boudhanath Stupa or the Boudha Stupa. The elaborately decorated facade almost hides everything behind the cover, even the hums of the chanting inside. Entering through the gates of the complex, the first thing that meets you is the meditative eye of the Buddha, from the towering Stupa in front. The Day-1 of our trip started with a visit to the Boudhanath Stupa, about 7 km from Central Kathmandu. The tour vehicle we hired from our hotel dropped us at the entry gate and swooped into the opposite lane. We had overcome the rather narrow streets and heavy yet silent traffic to make our way here.
The Boudhanath Stupa was built during the transition phase from Kashyap Buddha to Shakyamuni Buddha. This temple is about 120 feet in height, 100 feet in diameter, and 1 hectare in width. The dome covers an area of approximately 6700 square meters. Signifying the mind nature of Buddha – reflecting the present, past and the future, this monument is among the largest Buddhist monument in the world. The Boudhanath Stupa was listed in the UNESCO World Heritage sights in 1979.
The earthquake in 2015 completely devastated the structure including the central dome. What stands today is the reconstructed version of Boudhanath Stupa, mostly due to the remarkably steadfast restoration work carried out by the Government here since the aftermath.
As you enter through the ticket counters, the first thing that you come across is the Buddha idol in black stone. The mantra ‘Om mani padme hum’ is engraved in Pali script on the idol. With five different postures of Buddha, it indicates his consciousness of the five vital elements – earth, water, fire, air, and ether, to bring peace and harmony to mankind. The metal gate at the backdrop is the entrance through the Stupa’s perimeter wall, with prayer wheels lined all along the wall. Like every monastery, the ritual is to keep the prayer wheels rotating, so that they preserve the balance in the universe.