Reconstruction of Bouddhanath Stupa in Final Stage

Reconstruction of Bouddhanath Stupa is now in its final stage. The stupa was completely devastated by the April quake. Bouddhanath Area Development Committee has assured that the construction will be completed by mid-Novemeber.

Currently, the upper area of the stupa is under construction. The steeple of the stupa has already been plastered. As per the plan, the work of old copper based plates which are to be replaced with gold and the piles which is the base for the umbrella crown and the wood based lotus petals is also about 90 percent complete.

The small stupas nearby the Boudhanath stupa which were also damage have already been erected. Sampurna Kumar Lama, the chairman of the BADC says, “The work has been moving forward rapidly and we are determined to complete it by mid-November.”

The total estimated cost is Rs.184.5 millions. The committee has collected Rs. 30 million from its members and Rs.142.2 million from domestic as well as foreign donors. Around 30 kg of gold was required for the steeple. “The old gold base wasn’t removed and during the reconstruction gold was coated on top of it. Still 4-5 kilograms of gold might be required,” says Lama. He also disclosed to Republica that 1 kilogram of gold was collected from the locals and rest 29 kg was provided by Priest Tai Situpa Rinpoche.

Bouddhanath is said to be established in the fifth century and is also one of the tallest stupas in South Asia.

Source:My Republica