MAHABUDDHA TEMPLE

 The Mahabuddha Temple is the first Buddhist temple of Nepal constructed in the exquisite Shilchara architecture. Located at Okubahal at 10 minutes walking distance from the Patan Durbar Square, this temple consists of thousands of terracotta tiles bearing an image of Buddha. This temple is also known as the 'Temple of nine thousand Buddhas'. This magnificent temple is adorned from all sides with nine thousand Buddhas of different sizes. The temple is known as `Syangtungte in the Tibetan language and is considered as an important religious site for the Tibetan Buddhists. The temple, regarded as one of the most important landmarks of Lalitpur district, was constructed  a Lalitpur commoner, Pundit ekbhaya Raj Shakya, who was great connoisseur of arts and rafts. The temple dates back to 1508 A.D. and it took 36 years to complete. Pundit Abhaya Raj Shakya, a follower of Buddhism, got the inspiration to build the temple after seeing the huge Mahaboudhha temple in Boudhagaya, India. The temple was restored after it was damaged in the earthquake of 1934 AD. There is a small shrine dedicated to Buddha's mother, Maya Devi, in the corner of the courtyard.