One of the largest spherical stupas on earth and the beating heart of Tibetan Buddhism in Nepal, Boudhanath draws a slow, clockwise river of pilgrims from first light until the butter lamps are lit.
The great white dome — rebuilt after the 2015 earthquake entirely by community donation — is ringed by monasteries, prayer wheels and rooftop cafés. Join the kora (circumambulation), spin the wheels with your right hand, and let the chanting set your pace.
Built
14th c. · restored 2016
Height
36 metres
Entry
~$4 (NPR 400)
Insider tip
Come at dusk: pilgrims circle by lamplight, and the rooftop of any café on the ring gives the classic all-seeing-eyes view.
Look for
1The thirteen gilded rings of the spire — the thirteen stages to enlightenment
2Grain-sellers at the north gate feeding the morning pigeon cloud
3The small Ajima shrine tucked into the dome's base — most walk straight past
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