Boudhanath Stupa (Boudhanath Temple), Kathmandu (must see)

Boudhanath Stupa sometimes referred to as The Great Stupa, is a temple in Kathmandu Valley. This 118 feet tall worship structure was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979.

It is unknown exactly how and when the temple was first built. There are many legends surrounding its construction. One of them dates to the Licchavi kingdom in the Kathmandu Valley in the first century CE.

The ground on which Boudhanath stands was once the location of the palace of King Vikramaditya of Licchavi. After the palace was built, no water came through the flow. An astrologer suggested that a human sacrifice was needed to bring water to the region. The king chose to sacrifice himself.

The legend states that the king's head landed where the Boudhanath was erected. According to the lore, the prince built the temple to honor his father's sacrifice.

Another legend states that a treasure revealer Shakya Zangpo went to Nepal and found only an abandoned mound rather than a temple. He began restoring the mound and found the remains of King Amsuverma.

The Boudhanath Temple is known throughout the world for its massive mandala. It is one of the largest spherical temples in the world.

Serious damage was caused to the temple during the 2015 earthquake. Reconstruction started the following month and took one year to complete.