Kathmandu

Boudhanath Stupa in Kathmandu is one of the largest Buddhist stupas in the world and the holiest Tibetan Buddhist shrine outside Tibet, a massive white dome topped by a gilded spire and the all-seeing eyes of Buddha gazing in four directions. Surrounding the stupa is a circular street lined with Tibetan monasteries, thangka painting shops, and prayer-bead sellers, creating a living circle of devotion. At dusk, as monks conduct puja and thousands of butter lamps are lit, the stupa exudes an extraordinary spiritual presence.