July 27, 2025

Scattered across the four corners of Patan like ancient sentinels, the Ashoka Stupas are among the valley’s oldest Buddhist landmarks. These four earthen mounds—located at Lagankhel, Pulchowk, Teta, and Ibahi—are said to have been built by the Indian emperor Ashoka during his pilgrimage to the Kathmandu Valley in the 3rd century BCE. Though modest in scale, they carry immense spiritual and historical weight, anchoring Patan in a sacred Buddhist mandala.

Unlike the more elaborate stupas of Swayambhu or Boudhanath, the Ashoka stupas are austere—unadorned hemispheres of whitewashed brick with little fanfare. But their very simplicity is part of their power. These are not tourist spectacles but quiet beacons of a living faith. Locals circumambulate the stupas in the early morning light, turning prayer wheels, lighting butter lamps, and whispering mantras passed down for generations.

The positioning of the stupas at the city’s cardinal points was no accident. They were intended to sanctify the city’s boundaries and offer spiritual protection, transforming Patan into a sacred space aligned with cosmic principles. Even today, the layout gives the city a sense of geometric harmony and spiritual coherence.

While each stupa has its own neighborhood character—Lagankhel being the most accessible, Pulchowk nestled near modern bustle, Teta surrounded by greenery, and Ibahi tucked into a quiet lane—they all share a timeless stillness. It’s this subtle, almost hidden quality that makes visiting them feel like a kind of discovery, a moment of quiet awe.

Travelers interested in the deeper layers of Nepal’s Buddhist history will find that tracing the four Ashoka Stupas offers not just a walking tour, but a spiritual journey across centuries. Best explored on foot or bicycle, these ancient markers reward patience and curiosity, reminding you that in Patan, the past still pulses beneath your every step.