Boudha Mahavihar

Bhaktapur’s historic, Viharas and Bahis (Buddhist monasteries and courtyards) have hosted pilgrims and monks from different countries. Besides, they become venues for a great many religious and social ceremonies. These buddhist monasteries and courtyards are described below.

Lokeswor Mahavihar or laska-dyo

It is located at Tapalachhi and has different features than other bahas in Bhaktapur. It has an open space in the front side and has no open spaces on the other sides. This is different than such monuments in Patan and Chobhar and Jana Baha in Kathmandu.

Jet-Varna Mahavihar or Ni Baha

It is located at Tekhacho inside of a courtyard. There is an image of the Buddha carved on top of a stupa, which is known as Kwapa-dyo. There is also an image of Akshyobhya Buddha touching the earth.

Akhandasheel Mahavihar or Akan Baha

It is an ancient vihar located at Nasamana. Built by King Narendra Dev for Red Machhendranath, this vihar consists of an image of Akshyobhya. The original ceramic image was stolen and has een replaced by a stone one.

Lumba-Varna Mahavihar or Lun Baha

It is located at Sukudhwakda. Besides the Buddhist images, there is also an image of Bhimsen, a Hindu God. There are the images of Vajrasattwa and Amitabh Buddha on the walls. Two stone linons along with other stone images guard the main entrance. An inscription dates the temple to at least 1670 AD.

Mangal Dharma Mahavihar or Jahur Bahi

It is an ancient vihar located at Bolmadhi. There is a stone tablet inscribed with the date 1707 AD. There is an image of Rakta-Varma Amitabh.

Indra-Varna Mahavihar or Inacho Baha

Built in 1671, this vihar is located at Inacho, on the top of Patinga Hiti. There is an image of Shakyamuni Buddha.

Bhimottar Mahavihar or Muni Vihar

This vihar is located at Inacho. It is famous because of the Badi Monastery. The images contained are those of Dharmapal Mahankal and Ganesh. It is said that the vihar was built with the cooperation of the Tashilhumpo Monastery in Tibet to commemorate Muniji, the follower of Padmadhwoj.

Adipadma Mahavihar or Tom Vihar

It is located at Suryamadhi and was rebuilt in the 1940s after the 1934 earthquake. It has no ancient features. The main icon of the vihar is Kwapa-dyo. It also contains an image of Padmapani Lokeswor on the tympanum.

Bishwo Vihar or Biku Baha

It is located at Kwathandau. Padmapani Lokeswor’s icon is attached on the walls in the form of Kwapo-dyo. It does not have a main entrance gate but one needs to pass trhough a house to enter. It si dated to 1876 AD.

Prasannasheel Mahavihar or Pasu Baha

This vihar is also located at Kwathandau. It has a special place among the vihars. It resembles a typical three story Newar house. There is an icon of the Buddha in the form Bishwosvakaran Mudra inside. And above the main entrance there is a tympanum engraved with the icon of Akshyobhya Buddha. On the right and the left sides of this image, there are two others of Pragyaparamita and Sanghakanta Karunamaya. IT is dated to1914 AD.

Dipankar Vihar or Dipnakar Baha

This Dipankar Vihar is also known as Ajaju-dyo Baha. Of the five Dipankar Buddhas of Bhaktapur, this one is regarded as the oldest. The architectural desing of this vihar is totally different from the others because it is done in the Hindu Agan-chhen style. The images of Dipankar Buddha and Namasangiti Buddha as well as Kumaridhar and Twapaju, resemble those of the Bikramasheel Mahavihar in Kathmandu.

Manju-Vajra Mahavihar or Wonga Baha

It is alos located at Kwathandau. Hidden inside a small courtyard in the vicinity of the Prashannasheel Mahavihar. It contains a stone icon of Maha Manjushree in the form of Kwapa-dyo. On wooden tympanum are carved Vairochan, and Pragyanparmita and Sadkshari Lokswor.

Yangal-Varna Mahavihar or Yen Baha

This vihar is no longer in use. It is also located at Kwathandau. Today nothing remains except for a chaitya and a few inscriptions. Currently, a Tibetan Paramata Gumba is located here. An icon of Shakyamuni Buddha can be seen inside the Gumba.

Chaturvarna Mahavihar orTa-dhi Chhen

It is located in Layaku i.e. Durbar Square and is the most outstanding vihar in Bhaktapur. The main Kwapa-dyo of the vihar is the icon of Padmapani Lokeswor. There are two images of stone lions that guard the entrance. on the top of tympanum is anicon of Sahasgrabhuja Lokeswor. Inside the courtyard are two chaityas and a Dharma Dhatu Mandala. The temple is dated to 1478 AD.

Jet-Varna Mahavihar or Teknacho Baha

This is guarded by a set of stone lions. The icon of Sariputra Mauda Kalyan along with Shakyamuni Buddha is engraved on the tympanum. An image of Buddha is installed in the form of Kwapa-dyo.

Jaya Kirti Mahavihar or Thathu Bahi

Located next to the Na-Pukhu pond, it is one of the most outstanding vihars of the Kathmandu Valley. The courtyard of the vihar is two storied with a verandah. There is a clay iconof the Buddha in the fom of Kwapa-dyo. There are also other icons of Lokeswor Buddha. There is a large chaitya in the middle of the courtyard, which has stone inscriptions dated to 1727 AD and 1731 AD.

Sukra-Varna Mahavihar or Kuthu Bahi

Located just behind the Minibus Park, this vihar is important from an architectural point of view. The Kwapa-dyo here is a stone icon of Shakymuni Buddha. There is a chaitya inside of the courtyard. The vihar has an inscription which tells of its construction during the reign of King Ranajit Malla in 1748 AD.

Sukra-Varna Mahavihar or Kwachukhusi Baha

It is located near Hanuman Ghat. The phallic and Shiva temples along with Buddha chaityas and icons are spread throughout the courtyard. One is a two meter tall image of Lord Buddha. This image represents the Akshyobhya. While the icon is placed on a elephant back, it also bears a Vajra. The Kwapa-dyo is a 30 cm long Akshyobhya icon. There are stone inscriptions dated to 1915 AD and 1710 AD.

Tom Baha

Located at Kamal Vinayak, this is Bhaktapur’s oldest vihar. Here there is a very large chaitya, along with many icons displaying gestures which date them to the Malla period. Besides them, an image to Padmapani is located here.