Itum Bahal

The long, rectangular courtyard of is one of the oldest of Kathmandu's Buddhist monasteries, founded in the 11th c. or even earlier. A small, white painted stupa stands in the center of the courtyard. There are three entrance of the small passage "galli" you can spot, on the western side of the courtyard

1st one is the Kichandra Bahal one of the oldest bahals in the city, dating from 1381 and renovated in 2007. A chaitya in front of the entrance has been completely shattered by a Bodhi Tree, which has grown right up through its center. Inside Kichandra Bahal is central pagoda like sanctuary, and to the south is a small chaitya decorated with graceful standing bodhisattavs. On the right side of the courtyard are the four brass plaques mounted on the upper stores wall. The one known as GuruMapa.

2nd one leads to Tara Naani Bahal where two storage pagoda temple (Om Tare Tutare Ture Soha) is found and near that temple is a well where in Newari Mythology, Sheesh Naag is worshiped. Walking along the temple leads to Taha Bahal.

3rd one leads to A Saraswati Mandir in Itum Bahal.

People of ItumBaha have created their own website too for more information you can log in to http://www.itumbaha.org/ .