Bouddhanath

Just outside of Kathmandu, Bodhanath Stupa is one of the largest stupas of its kind in the world. Its history can be traced back to around the 6th century, or even earlier. Like Bhaktapur, it is located on the old trade route to Tibet and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The stupa itself is a symbol of enlightenment, but in Bouddhanath, the symbolic meaning is particularly obvious. Each different shape represents one of the five elements of earth, water, fire, wind, and sphere, which are also the attributes of the five Buddhas. They are gathered together in the form of a stupa, and their unity reflects the structure of the universe itself in an abstract way.

The pagoda was slightly damaged in the 2015 earthquake and has now been completely restored.