Haipiano Nguyen

Join us as we travel through the Himalayas visiting famous Buddhist stupas

In the midst of the snowcapped Himalayas, the most notable structures are stupas – sacred towers also known as chortens. Stupas are the oldest architectural monuments created by Buddhist cultures. In the snowy Himalayas they are symbols of the spread of Buddhism.

According to Vajrayana Buddhism, the universe is formed from six basic elements: earth, water, fire, wind, air and spiritual awareness. As a result, throughout the snowy mountains, people have built stupas for centuries to express their spirituality. The pedestal, also known as the primary foundation, is built in a square shape to represent the Earth. The second floor is round and represents Water. The third step is triangular and represents Fire. Atop the stupa rests a big canopy that symbolizes Buddhist doctrines’ ability to free mortal beings from suffering and concern. On the canopy are a moon and a sun that represent Wind and Air. The finial of the stupa represents Non-duality, which refers to the non-existence of discrimination between worlds. If looked upon from above, a stupa is always located on the north-south and east-west axis in the structure of a Mandala. This expresses the infinite and boundlessness of our universe.

Boudhanath Stupa

Located in the eastern suburbs of the Nepali capital of Kathmandu, Boudhanath is one of the largest stupas in the world. It stands 36m high and spans over 100m in diameter. It was built in the 14th century, with its heart consisting of Vairocana Buddha and five Dhyani Buddhas. Boudhanath Stupa’s most unusual feature is that giant eyes of Buddha are painted on all four sides of the upper part of the stupa. The central part of these eyes contain the Number One (in Nepalese script) to symbolize singularity. The top of the eyes contain the third eye, referring to the Mind of Buddha. There are now over 50 Tibetan Buddhist monasteries around Boudhanath, and this stupa is a center for Vajrayana Buddhist pilgrims. In 1979, Boudhanath was registered by the UNESCO as a World Heritage. 

Kanika Chorten           

Kanika Chorten is part of Sani Monastery in Padum Town in the Zanskar region of northern India. This chorten rises 6m high and was constructed in the 2nd century under the reign of King Kanishka. The name Kanika was derived from the king’s colloquial name. It’s known as the oldest extant chorten in the Himalayas.

The chorten has a square pedestal, a big dome and a 13-story triangular bronze stupa decorated with the moon and the stars on top. The triangular chorten has three iron chains tied tightly to the dome. It is assumed that this chorten is “tied” so as not to fly back to Tibet. Several researchers claim the chains were meant to protect this chorten from vandalism caused during Muslim attacks against Buddhist monasteries in this region.

National Memorial Chorten – Thimphu Chorten

Seen from the crooked mountain roads on the outskirts of the Bhutanese capital of Thimphu, the glistening golden chorten contrasts with the snowcapped mountains and the cramped, crowded capital. This chorten was built in 1974 in memory of the third king of Bhutan, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck. The king dreamt of building a chorten to symbolize the Mind of Buddha and to serve as a place to worship peace.

The chorten is designed in the classical Tibetan shape with a conical pillar decorated with a crescent moon and a sun. The globular body was revised from a dome into a pyramidal shape. Thimphu Chorten features four corners of four Mandalas, which are portrayals of the universe, and four smaller monasteries: a Mandala of Ratnasambhava Buddha in the South, Mandala of Hayagriva Guardian Buddha in the West, Phurba Guardian Buddha in the North and Vajrasattva Buddha in the East.

108 Druk Wangyal chortens on Dochula Pass

Dochula Pass lies 3,100 m above sea level on the road from the former Bhutanese capital of Phunakha to Thimphu. At the top of the pass lies a cluster of 108 chortens collectively named Druk Wangyal.

This grouping is designed with three stories: the lowest story holds 45 chortens, the second level has 36 chortens and the upper level has 27 smaller chortens. The chortens have a simple square shape and are roofed with rocks and supported with wooden pillars in the same fashion as a traditional Bhutanese house. The upper body is edged with a red rim and inscribed with scriptures and adorned with golden statues of deities, bells, small clay stupas and gems. On clear days, it’s a mesmerizing place to stop and enjoy views over the Himalayas.