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Buddhist stupa in Boudha, Kathmandu, Nepal
Photo: Luca Galuzzi (Lucag), CC BY-SA 2.5 via Wikimedia Commons
East Kathmandu covers the eastern fringes of Kathmandu, including Boudhanath, also known as Boudha. It is home to one of the largest Buddhist stupas in the world, built during the 5th century AD.
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Boudha Chorten
According to legend, Boudhanath Stupa was built in the 5th century AD by an elderly poultry woman who sought land from the king to construct a shrine to the Buddha. The king agreed, offering her as much land as she could cover with the skin of a water buffalo. Cleverly, she cut the hide into thin strips and laid them end to end, creating a vast circumference. Though the king realized he had been outwitted, he honored his promise, and the stupa was built according to these dimensions. It is believed to enshrine various relics, including those of Kashyapa, a Buddha from a previous aeon. Today, Boudhanath Stupa stands as Nepal’s most revered Buddhist site, drawing pilgrims who circumambulate the structure throughout the day, chanting mantras. It is especially spectacular at night when bathed in the glow of warm floodlights. Visitors should remember to walk around the stupa in a clockwise direction and spin the prayer wheels the same way. Information on Buddhism and the points of etiquette at Buddhist sites: Buddhism
This important Hindu temple is dedicated to Shiva in his form as the Lord of the Beasts. While only Hindus are allowed to enter the inner sanctum, the surrounding temple grounds are open to all visitors. The area features not only historic architecture and rich religious iconography, but also sadhus (holy men), a market for spiritual items, and a revered sacred cave. One of the most fascinating parts of the complex is the cremation ghats along the banks of the Bagmati River. These are best experienced in the early morning or evening, with striking light and moving devotional ceremonies beginning around 7 PM. Buddhist visitors should not miss the nearby caves — just beyond the high-caste cremation area— where the great teacher Tilopa instructed Naropa, who later attained enlightenment there.
turn it into a do umentation centre documenting what artists, photographers, architects, anthropologists and Samskritists from abroad had contributed in the second half of the 20th century to identify, highlight and preserve the cultural heritage of the Kathmandu Valley.
One of the Shakti Peethas of Nepal, considered auspicious to Shakti devotees.
The oldest original Karma Kagyu monastery in Boudha, Nepal. The monastery was established by Very Ven. 7th Dabzang Rinpoche year 1963 near the great stupa of Boudha.
A beautiful Tibetan monastery near Boudhanath Stupa. It is inaugurated by Trulshik Rinpoche and Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche in October 2005. The monastery has an elementary and a training school. It consists of monks from remote region of Nepal and Tibet. There are many exquisite Tibetan Buddhist wall paintings.
A very spacious and beautiful temple founded by the late Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche. There is a garden restaurant near the monastery guest house.
Clean cafe offering traditional Tibetan & Western breakfast, lunch & dinner. Cafe is above Buddhist shop & is on 3, 4 & 5th floors overlooking the stupa. Excellent veggie burger with fried for Rs120. Small pot of milk tea Rs75. Wi-Fi.
Excellent meals prepared with organic ingredients. Sourdough bread. Healthy and tasty smoothies. Polite and quick service. Dull, uninspired interior.
Local restaurant with good, clean, cheap food, and with live music.
Specializes in Nepali and Tibetan cuisine. Veg & Non-veg meals. Clay oven pizzas. Views over the stupa.
Pure vegan restaurant with ethics. Good coffee. Wide range of tasty Indian and Italian dishes. Healthy juices. Reasonable prices. Only outdoor seating in a beer garden-like setting. Good place to grab a meal, but not to relax and hang out.
Excellent coffee and desserts. Western favourites, muesli, French toast, pasta, and local food, momos and thukpa. Cosy interior - a cross between Freak Street and Dolpo. Personalized service from owner. A number of stupa-facing window seats. Highly recommended carrot cake.
Tucked away at the end of alley. Outdoor seating only. Good coffee. Excellent food.
Boudha branch of the ubiquitous Himalayan Java chain. Spacious and chic. Small number of seats offering views over the stupa. Excellent coffee.
Cosy, elegant cafe. Excellent coffee and cakes. Stylish and earthy handmade cups and coffee-making utensils on sale. Indoor and outdoor seating.
Large and spacious with contemporary design. Excellent wood-fired pizza. Rooftop seating. Views over the stupa.
Elegant cafe inside monastery compound. Large outside seating area, including Zen-style floor space. Excellent coffee and desserts. A number of veggie combo breakfast options. Small selection of Buddhist books and magazines to read on the premise.
A pleasant guesthouse with garden, restaurant, and free Wi-Fi. Convenient for Boudha Stupa.
Some of the rooms are nice and clean but the ones downstairs, with kitchen, not so much. They have rats and little cockroaches. It's at the end of a very narrow and dark alley, and there have been lots of robberies at night. Not recommendable. Beside/affiliated with the beautiful Tharlam Sasang Namgyal Ling Monastery. One bedroom for 1 person: Rs400; twin beds or double bed for 2: Rs$800; Suite or bedroom with kitchen: Rs1200; (prices: 2011) about 100 m NE of the Boudha Stupa.
A bright an airy hotel. Close to stupa. Free WIFI. Breakfast included in rates.
Large rooms. Close to cafes and restaurants. A 2 to 3 minute walk to Boudha Stupa.
A charity run guesthouse. Profits used to support underprivileged youth. Staff are trainees from disadvantaged backgrounds. Cosy rooms. Cafe and restaurant. Garden. Shop selling goods made by women from underprivileged families.
In the grounds of Shechen Monastery in Boudha has clean & good quality rooms with private bathrooms for about USD10 (2011). Guesthouse also has garden with restaurant/coffee shop facilities & is within a five minute walk of Bodhnath Stupa.
5 star hotel with 290 rooms and suites. Has a health and beauty spa, swimming pool, wading pool for children and an outdoor whirlpool. 4 km from Tribhuvan International Airport and within walking distance of Baudha Stupa.
Shanta Ratna Shakya
Sells hand-made singing bowls. Singing bowls are a new concept and did not exist in Tibet as instruments of healing
A charity empowering disadvantaged women. Handmade bags and meditation cushions. Products are well made with innovative designs.
By bus
Buses and vans that ply the Ring Road route (which loops around Kathmandu and the Kathmandu Valley) pass through Chabahil. The fare for anywhere on the loop is between Rs30-40.
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