ASHOK STUPA in kathmandu

CHABAHIL

The small village of Chabahil is located only 3 km east of Kathmandu on the way to Bauddha. Recently it has almost merged with the eastern suburbs of the Greater Kathmandu area. It contains in its core, however, one of the most ancient stupas - the northern Ganesh who is custodian of Pashupati -and two important bahals.

ASHOK STUPA (Dhando chaitya)

The most important site in Chabahil as well as one of the most ancient ones in the valley, is this stupa whose foundations date back to the third century B.C.

There are a nimber of early classical stone sculptures: a sixth century Harinchkra Puja Parivar, a ninth century standing buddha; an Abalokiteshwar, a Vasuki, a Yishmi Bajra, and a kalasha, all of the tenth century; a seventeenth century Bajarasatttva and a Manjeshwari from the eighteenth century. There are also various stone mandalas, several small chaityas from the Lichhavi period, and several Pradip stambhas.

The stupa has legendary associations with King Brishadev. It was renovated in 1652 by Jitpal Shakya and again in 1864 by Singapati Gonapati Shakya.

The priest of the stupa is a Brahma-Charya Bikshu. Its festival is on Ashwin-purnima.

The area surrounding the stupa is called Manju Vihar which suggests that the stupa may once have been the center of a monastery.