Terracotta Temple of the Thousand Buddhas of Mahabuddha

The Terracotta Temple of a Thousand Buddhas ("Mahabuddha Temple"), located in Patana near the Palace Square, was built in 1585 by priest Abhaya Raj and dedicated to the Buddha. It was here that Gautama Sidhartha attained enlightenment and became a Buddha. The temple is also called the “Temple of a Thousand Buddhas” because a terracotta image of the Buddha is engraved on every brick of the building. The temple is modeled after the Mahabodhi temple in the Indian city of Bonh Gaya and is considered a unique terracotta temple of its kind.

After the temple was destroyed in the Great Earthquake of 1933, a new temple was built, in exact accordance with the original. The temple of Mahabuddha is the main attraction of Patan. The complex is included in the list of protected UNESCO World Heritage sites.