Boudha Nath situated 8 km to the east of downtown Kathmandu, Boudha, is one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites and one of the most imposing landmarks in Kathmandu. Visible as soon as you land at the Tribhuvan International Airport, it is the largest stupa in the Kathmandu Valley.
The 36-meter-high stupa of Boudha is massive and dominates the skyline in the area. With countless monasteries around it, Boudha is the center of Tibetan Buddhism in Nepal.
Built-in the shape of a mandala designed to replicate the Gyangtse of Tibet, the stupa was renovated by Licchhavi rulers in the 8th century. The location of the stupa is interesting as it once lay on the ancient trade route to Tibet and it was here that Tibetan merchants rested and offered prayers for many centuries. It is one of the major pilgrimage sites for Buddhists from around the world.
On each side are the all-seeing-eyes of the Buddha symbolizing awareness. The canopy has 13 stages. At ground level, there is a brick wall that has 147 niches and 108 images of the meditational Buddha inset behind copper prayer wheels.
