Boudhanath

Boudhanath (pronounced “Bow-da-nath”) is one of the largest stupas (or convents) in the world. It dominates this part of the Kathmandu skyline and we can see it from our room at the Hyatt Regency. Stupas are holy to Tibetan Buddhists and this one was a destination for Tibetans in the 1950’s, so is located in what is now a Tibetan neighborhood in Kathmandu.

Something has been located at this site for the last 1,500 years, but the stupa in it’s present form (either original or rebuilt after earthquakes) has been here since the 8th century. It’s breathtakingly beautiful.

It is circular, like a Tibetan prayer wheel, and so as you draw near to it you circulate to the left otherwise it’s bad luck! A small village of shops and restaurants encircle the stupa and so it has the effect of having stepped into a medieval village.

You’ll notice the eyes painted on the spire. The eyes represent the all-seeing ability of Buddha.

Hanging from the spire are the colorful Buddhist prayer flags.

Every angle seemed more beautiful than the last.

We circled around the stupa and took in its beauty.

Tomorrow we see our last two cultural sites in Kathmandu. The Swayambhunath, known as the Monkey Temple, and Pashupatinath, a Hindu cremation temple.