
#85 Globally
βΈοΈ Boudhanath Stupa
Nepal
About This Sacred Site
Boudhanath Stupa in Kathmandu is one of the largest spherical stupas in the world and the most important Tibetan Buddhist pilgrimage site outside Tibet. The massive mandala-shaped stupa, 36 meters tall, is surrounded by over 50 Tibetan Buddhist monasteries and is the center of Tibetan culture in Nepal. Pilgrims circumambulate the stupa clockwise, spinning prayer wheels and chanting mantras. After China's annexation of Tibet in 1959, many Tibetan refugees settled around Boudhanath, transforming the area into a vibrant center of Tibetan Buddhist culture and practice.
Key Facts
- β’One of the largest spherical stupas in the world at 36 meters tall
- β’Surrounded by over 50 Tibetan Buddhist monasteries
- β’Became a center for Tibetan refugees after 1959
- β’The stupa is designed as a mandala representing the Buddhist cosmology
- β’UNESCO World Heritage Site and major stop on the ancient Tibet-Nepal trade route
Location
Coordinates: 27.7215, 85.3620





