Vihara

Western Buddhist fending his way to the Golden Temple in Patan

Baha or bahi, also known by its sanskrit name "vihara", is the typical Nepali Buddhist monastery. It is a two-storied building, square in plan with open arcades (dalan) defining a courtyard. One or more shrines (chaitya) are found in the central axis of the courtyard, between the door and the main shrine.