A Stupa can be defined as a symbolic representation of Buddha's spirit and is often built near crossroads thus giving them greater visibility. It is believed that when built carefully, a Stupa has a strong positive effect on its surroundings by diminishing negative forces and encouraging harmony and freedom. One famous example is the Stupa built on the Letze in memory of Geshe Rabten Rinpoche in 1987. People from different segments of the society helped in constructing this Stupa that is indeed a sight to behold today.

Stupas can be constructed in different forms. The pointed top of a Stupa can show the degree of spiritual development of the person in whose memory it was built. Some examples have been listed below: -

1. A Stupa built for an ordinary person does not have a pointed top.

2. A Stupa built in memory of a person who has entered the stream of liberation has a pointed top with two rings.

3. A Stupa that is built for a person who must take birth only once before attaining liberation from the conditioned existence has a point with three rings.

4. Stupas built for a person who does not have to return any more to the conditioned existence have a point with four rings.

5. Stupas built for Shravaka Arhats (those who have achieved complete liberation from the conditioned existence) have a point with five rings.

6. A Stupa built for a Pratyeka Arhat (one who has achieved complete liberation from the conditioned existence and is on the way to enlightenment) has a point with seven rings.

7. A Stupa that is built for a fully enlightened being has a pointed top with thirteen rings.

There are eight different types of Stupas that have been built at places that witnessed some of the special events in Buddha's life. They are : -

1. The Birth-Stupa in Lumbini where the steps beneath the top have been built in form of a Lotus flower.

2. The Teachings-Stupa in Sarnath has steps with doors.

3. The Enlightenment-Stupa in Bodhgaya has four steps in the shape of squares.

4. The Stupa of the return of the Buddha from the kingdom of the Devas in Sankashaya has stairs leading over the steps of the Stupa.

5. The Stupa of Reconciliation in Radshgir has eight-cornered steps.

6. The Stupa of Victory in Vaishali has four rounded steps.

7. The Stupa of the Great Wonder in Shravasti has four steps that have been built to form a rectangular Lotus flower.

8. The Stupa of Buddha's Parinirvana in Kushinager does not have any steps. The top is directly above the throne and looks like a bell with two horizontal lines