Kathmandu Valley, a fertile bowl nestled among peaks of the Himalayan mountain range, has been a base of religious activity for centuries. The valley’s name points to this tradition; Kathmandu is derived from Kastha Mandap, which means “wooden temple” in Sanskrit. (...)
Kathmandu Valley, a fertile bowl nestled among peaks of the Himalayan mountain range, has been a base of religious activity for centuries. The valley’s name points to this tradition; Kathmandu is derived from Kastha Mandap, which means “wooden temple” in Sanskrit. The Itum Baha monastery was one of the first buildings constructed in the area, its foundations thought to date from the Licchavi Period (300–879). Itum Baha is one of 83 remaining Buddhist monasteries in Nepal, but one of the few that is intact. The temple’s two-story complex is built around a central courtyard that contains several wooden figures, including a spectacular four-faced, six-armed deity from the 17th century known locally as Mahapratisara. The original wood of the columns, windows, and doors lining the courtyard is intricately carved with religious imagery. Itum Baha is still owned and operated by the sangha, a group of Newar Buddhist monastic elders.
