Nepal's Quake-damaged Boudhanath Stupa Reopens

Fahad Shabbir (@FahadShabbir) Published November 22, 2016 | 03:10 PM

KATHMANDU, , (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 22nd Nov, 2016 ) - Nepal's newly restored Boudhanath stupa reopened to the public 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.

Restoration work began in May 2015 and cost $2.1 million -- including over 30 kilogrammes (66 Pounds) of gold -- according to the Boudhanath Area Development Committee.