Day Trips from Kathmandu: Boudhanath

Festooned with prayer flags and lined with prayer wheels, the massive white and gold stupa of Boudhanath is a magnificent spectacle, and one of the great religious attractions of Nepal. Located only seven miles from central Kathmandu, this great Buddhist monument is one of the must-see sights in the Kathmandu Valley, and arguably the must-see sight for anyone who has a particular interest in Tibetan-style vajrayana Buddhism.

Getting There

Boudhanath is located in the suburbs of Kathmandu in an area that has become something of a Tibetan Quarter. It can be reached by taxi or bus, or it can be walked to by anyone looking to make an intrepid hike out into the farther reaches of the city. It is also possible to cut across to Pashupatinath, the main cremation site for Nepal's mostly Hindu population, on foot. Those seeking to make either the trek to Boudhanath or the triangular journey from Kathmandu to Boudhanath and Pashupatinath should bring along a compass, and not get nervous at the prospect of getting lost in the warren of poorly marked streets.

The Stupa

Stupas are Buddhist monuments erected over relics or the bodies of Buddhist saints. The stupa at Boudhanath is arguably the largest of its kind. Its origins are shrouded in legend, and even the dates of its construction are uncertain. The best that can be said is that it was erected something between the mid 400s and the late 500s AD. With prayer flags flapping in the breeze, Tibetans making circumambulations of the monument, and burning butter lamps everywhere, the site is enormously photogenic, especially on clear days with brilliant blue Himalayan skies.

Circumambulating

If you decide to circumambulate the monument yourself, and perhaps turn some of the prayer wheels along the way, the one thing to remember is to go in a clockwise direction. Only Muslims use the counter-clockwise direction for circumambulation. If you are a Buddhist, then you already know what prayers to say, but otherwise be respectful and don't start chanting something you read in a book just for fun.

Other Sights

Boudhanath has become the magnet for Tibetans who have fled the Chinese occupation and settled in Nepal. Outside of those areas along the Himalayan border with Tibet, this is the place to go for those with an interest in Tibetan culture and Buddhism. There are several gompas (Tibetan monasteries) in the area, as well as a few representing other branches of Buddhism. Even for those who are students of Buddhism, the proximity of these temples makes visiting them a simple matter and it is well worth the time to do so. Long-term visitors may be interested in signing up for a meditation course or seminar, and there are several temples in the area that offer them.

Sources: Personal Experience