Patan - Mahabuddha Mandir

Despite its height the shikhara of the Mahabuddha Temple (Temple of the Thousand Buddhas) stands concealed in a courtyard, scarcely visible from the street. It is one of many copies of the Mahabuddha Temple in Bodhgaya (Bihar, India) where Buddha achieved enlightenment. The Patan temple is said to have been erected in the 16th c. by an Indian pilgrim Jivaraja, who visited Bodhgaya with the express intention of recreating the Mahabuddha Temple in the monastery founded by his grandfather Abhayaraja in Patan. It took 36 years to build, being completed in 1585. Reconstruction following the 1934 earthquake was hampered by lack of a detailed plan. As a result enough materials were left over to erect the little shrine to Maya Devi, Buddha's mother, which can be seen on the south-west side.

The tall shikhara, crowned by a small gilded stupa, is covered with floral decoration and terracotta reliefs of Buddha. The view from the narrow courtyard is somewhat restricted, a better vantage point being the roof terraces of the shops at the rear of the court.