Mahaboudha Temple in Patan, Religion, Tourist Attractions

Patan is known as one of the three oldest Nepalese cities in the Kathmandu Valley. It is within this city where many varieties of the traditional arts and crafts can be found such as the metal craft center which can be visited presenting a wonderful array of Nepal’s past and future. It also incorporates some of the most exquisite shrines, carvings and temples and in particular to the east of the Durbar Square you will discover the Temple of Mahaboudha, built in the 14th century. A serene Buddhist monument made of clay bricks and styled in the beautiful art form of terra-cotta, Mahaboudha Temple is so different to that of the pagoda roofs and temples surrounding it.

Engraved into the walls of Mahaboudha Temple are up to nine thousands carvings of images of Buddha, giving Mahaboudha its name and showing off the designs and creative skills held by the craftsmen of Patan. Although grand in height, this impressive temple is tightly hidden by surrounding buildings making it inconspicuous. The temple is designed in commemoration to the original temple in India called Bodhigaya after Lord Buddha, his life and contributions.

The area in which Mahaboudha Temple is located has been through many trials as over the centuries. Earthquakes have repeatedly ripped through the historical valley of Kathmandu devastating temples and palaces during the significant period of 1934, to a point of no recognition. Thankfully as time has passed so the reconstruction of the history of times past has been revived with buildings raised to their former glory. In most cases structures are duplicated to their original standing. The Mahaboudha Temple in Patan, which was built by the priest known as Abhaya Raj, still contains some of the original bricks used in its construction. Residents of Patan greatly appreciate the many projects that have been taken on by foreign funded programs, such as the German-based Bhaktapur Development Project, which was responsible for the restoration of over a 100 buildings in the Nepalese city. Another project has been successfully seen in the small town of Panauti in the southeastern corner of the valley which was supported by a French-Nepali agreement.

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