Vihara vs. Stupa — What's the Difference?

A Buddhist monastery.

A stūpa (Sanskrit: स्तूप, lit. 'heap') is a mound-like or hemispherical structure containing relics (such as śarīra – typically the remains of Buddhist monks or nuns) that is used as a place of meditation. A related architectural term is a chaitya, which is a prayer hall or temple containing a stupa.

A dome-shaped building erected as a Buddhist shrine.

A dome-shaped monument used as a Buddhist or Jainist reliquary or commemorative shrine. Also called tope3.

(Buddhism) A dome-shaped Buddhist monument, used to house relics of the Lord Buddha.

A mound or monument commemorative of Buddha.

See 1st Stupe.