Boudhanath Stupa

बौद्धनाथ

The largest stupa in Nepal and the heart of Tibetan Buddhism in the country. A classic experience is circling the stupa at dusk alongside Tibetan pilgrims, then watching it from a rooftop café.

Boudhanath Stupa lies about 7 kilometers northeast of Kathmandu. It is 100 meters in diameter and 36 meters tall, making it one of the largest stupas in the world. Legend dates its construction to the 5th or 6th century. It was once a place where Tibetan caravans prayed for blessings before entering the valley. After 1959 it became the center of Nepal's Tibetan community and Tibetan Buddhism, and more than 50 monasteries of various sects now surround it. The stupa is a mandala structure. Its three square terraces symbolize the earth, the white dome symbolizes water, and the golden spire, with its Buddha eyes and 13 steps, symbolizes the 13 stages on the path to enlightenment. The best time to visit is between 5:00 and 7:00 p.m. Join the Tibetans in circling the stupa clockwise (kora), where the sound of prayer wheels and chanting blends together, and butter lamps line the base. Afterward, climb to any rooftop restaurant or café around the square for a bird's-eye view and panoramic photos of the stupa. You can climb to the first terrace for a close-up look, or visit the nearby monasteries and thangka painting workshops. Foreigners pay an entrance fee of 400 rupees. A taxi from Thamel takes about 30 minutes (roughly 500 to 700 rupees). Combine it with Pashupatinath Temple, about 2 kilometers away, in the same afternoon. Remember to circle clockwise, remove your shoes when entering monasteries, and bargain at the many thangka and Tibetan craft shops around the square.

Boudhanath Stupa

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