Nepal Earthquake Damages World՚s Oldest Buddhist Shrine Swayambhunath Stupa

A Nepal earthquake damage (7.9-magnitude) has partially damaged Swayambhunath Stupa located in Kathmandu which is believed to be the world՚s oldest Buddhist shrine. Swayambhunath Stupa is one of the main Buddhist shrine and most visited tourist sites in Nepal. It is also known as Monkey Temple as there are holy monkey living in the north -west parts of the temple.

  • Three other Buddhist monasteries were also damaged including Jyoti Kirti Bihar, Karmapa Bihar, Maha Bihar, Pratapur, Shantipur, Anantapur and Manjushree temple but famous Hindu shrine Pashupati and House of Living Goddess Kumari in Kathmandu has remained unharmed in the earthquake.
  • Swayambhunath Stupa is believed to have originated at a time when Kathmandu was inhabited by a deity called Manjushri which had a vision of the lotus at Swayambhu and traveled there to worship.
  • Stupa was drained out a big lake by cutting the Chobar hill situated in southern Kathmandu thousands of years ago.
  • Swayambhunath was founded by the great-grandfather of king Manadeva in 464 - 505 CE and the Stupa was completely renovated in May 2010.

Examrace Team at May 5, 2015