Rising above the rooftops of Kathmandu's old trade route to Tibet, Boudhanath Stupa is one of the largest spherical stupas in the world and the spiritual heart of Nepal's Tibetan Buddhist community. Its whitewashed dome and gilded spire, painted with the all-seeing eyes of the Buddha, have watched over pilgrims for centuries.
Walking clockwise around the stupa, alongside maroon-robed monks and elderly pilgrims spinning prayer wheels, is a meditative ritual in itself. The surrounding neighborhood is packed with monasteries, thangka painting workshops, and rooftop cafés with sweeping views over the stupa — a wonderful place to slow down for an afternoon.
Our Boudhanath tour is best paired with a sunrise or sunset visit, when the light on the stupa's golden spire is at its most beautiful, and the courtyard fills with the low hum of chanting and butter lamps being lit.
