Mahabouddha Temple (Temple of a Thousand Buddhas)
महाबुद्ध मन्दिर
A unique shikhara-style tower entirely covered in terracotta tiles, each bearing a hand-carved image of Buddha, modeled after the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya.
Dedicated To
Shakyamuni Buddha
Period
Built 1585 CE (rebuilt after 1934 earthquake)
Hours
6:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Entry Fee
NPR 50 / USD 1
Neighborhood
Mahabouddha Tole, Patan
Location
Lalitpur, Bagmati
Visiting Etiquette
Remove shoes. Photography allowed in the courtyard. The temple is in a narrow space — be mindful of other visitors. Combined ticket with Rudravarna Mahavihar may be available.
Mahabouddha Temple, also known as the Temple of a Thousand Buddhas, is one of Nepal's most architecturally unique sacred structures. Located in a narrow courtyard southeast of Patan Durbar Square, this shikhara-style tower is entirely covered in terracotta tiles, each bearing a hand-carved image of the Buddha — over 1,000 in total.
Built in 1585 by priest Abhaya Raj after a pilgrimage to Bodh Gaya, the temple is modeled after the famous Mahabodhi Temple in India. This Indian-influenced architectural style is extremely rare in the Kathmandu Valley, where pagoda-style temples dominate.
The temple was severely damaged in the 1934 earthquake and painstakingly rebuilt. Surplus terracotta bricks from the reconstruction were used to build a smaller second shrine dedicated to Maya Devi, the mother of the Buddha, in the same courtyard.
The surrounding neighborhood is famous for its metalworking tradition, and the narrow lanes leading to the temple are lined with workshops producing bronze and brass statues using traditional lost-wax casting techniques.