Bahal · Buddhist
Cuka Bahal (Chakravarna Mahavihar)
चक्रवर्ण महाविहार❊चुकाबहाः
Shakyamuni Buddha / Dharmachakra·Licchavi period (attributed to Manadeva I, 5th century CE)·Lalitpur
Chakravarna Mahavihar (Cuka Bahal) is one of Patan's 18 principal bahals, believed to have been founded by the Licchavi king Manadeva I in the 5th century.
Dedicated to
Shakyamuni Buddha / Dharmachakra
Period
Licchavi period (attributed to Manadeva I, 5th century CE)
Hours
Dawn to dusk
Admission
Free
Neighborhood
Patan Old City
Cuka Bahal, formally Chakravarna Mahavihar — the 'Monastery of the Wheel Color' (a reference to the Dharma wheel) — is one of the traditional 18 principal bahals of Patan. It is believed to have been founded by the Licchavi king Manadeva I, placing its origins as far back as the 5th century CE, making it potentially one of the oldest bahals in the valley.
The Chakra (wheel) in its name refers to the Dharmachakra, the wheel of Buddhist teaching, suggesting this monastery held particular importance in the transmission of Buddhist doctrine. The bahal follows the classic courtyard plan with a central shrine and surrounding residential quarters.
If the attribution to Manadeva I is accurate, Cuka Bahal predates most other Patan bahals by several centuries, making it a site of exceptional historical significance for understanding the early spread of Buddhism in the Kathmandu Valley.
Folio III
Nearby Sacred Sites
Places within a short walk that help turn this stop into a small sacred cluster.
Hari Shankar Temple
A three-tiered pagoda dedicated to the rare combined form of Vishnu and Shiva — built by a Malla princess and known for its vivid roof-strut carvings of hellish punishments.
Jyo Bahal (Jyoti Varna Mahavihar)
Jyoti Varna Mahavihar (Jyo Bahal) is one of the 18 principal Newar Buddhist monastery courtyards of Patan, whose name evokes 'radiance' or 'light'.
Vishwanath Temple
A handsome two-tiered Shiva pagoda in Patan Durbar Square, guarded by stone elephants and adorned with erotic roof-strut carvings in the classic Newar tradition.
Krishna Mandir
Nepal's finest stone shikhara temple, built in 1637 by King Siddhi Narsingh Malla — a three-tiered masterpiece with 21 golden pinnacles and exquisite Mahabharata and Ramayana bas-reliefs.
Ta Bahal (Dharma Kirti Mahavihar)
Dharma Kirti Mahavihar (Ta Bahal) is one of Patan's 18 principal bahals — the 'Monastery of Dharma's Glory', preserving Newar Buddhist traditions.
Coda
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