Nepal’s quake-damaged Boudhanath stupa reopens

KATHMANDU: Nepal´s newly restored Boudhanath stupa reopened to the public on Tuesday after it was damaged by the deadly 2015 earthquake that left much of the country´s cultural heritage in ruins.

The white-domed golden stupa -- the country´s largest and one of the holiest sites of pilgrimage in Tibetan Buddhism -- was left with deep cracks after the powerful 7.8-magnitude quake hit in April last year, devastating the Himalayan nation and killing nearly 9,000 people.

To mark the opening, which took place after a three-day purification ritual, colourful prayer flags and flowers covered the stupa and monks chanted prayers. The Unesco world heritage site, believed to have been built in the 5th century, was restored with donations from devotees and from Buddhist organisations around the world.

"I am here almost everyday and was heartbroken to see it damaged after the quake. But it is now open to us, I am very happy to see it standing tall," said 66-year-old Dawa Lama who had come to the stupa to offer prayers.