Buddhism in Nepal: state of the art, 1995

The Nepalese valley of Kathmandu, which was situated on an important trade route between India and Central Asia, counts various sacred Buddhist sites. Due to the arrival of numerous Tibetan Buddhists from 1959 onwards, Mahayana Buddhism has flourished in Kathmandu valley, which is one of the four most important pilgrimage destinations for Buddhists. The establishment of Tibetan communities in Kathmandu has led to the rise of several important economic and cultural centres, to the construction of a large number of Buddhist monasteries and temples and to a considerable development of religious activity in the area.