A stupa (which literally means "heap") is a mound-like structure containing Buddhist relics, typically the remains of a Buddha or saint, used by Buddhists as a place of worship.
The Dhamekh Stupa was built around 500 AD to replace an earlier structure commissioned by King Ashoka in 249 BC to commemorate his pilgrimage there. The stupa was enlarged on six occasions but the upper part is still unfinished. The stupa is a solid cylinder of bricks and stone reaching a height of 44 meters and a diameter of 28 meters. The basement seems to have survived from the original structure. The stone facing is chiseled and displays floral carvings of Gupta origin.
No comments:
Post a Comment