Boudhanath Stupa

Kathmandu, Nepal

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Boudhanath Stupa in Kathmandu, Nepal, is one of the largest spherical stupas in the world and a major pilgrimage site for Tibetan Buddhists.

Its massive white dome symbolizes the universe, and atop it sits a square tower with Buddha's all-seeing eyes painted on all four sides, representing wisdom and compassion. The stupa is richly symbolic, with its structure embodying the elements of earth, water, fire, air, and space, and its spire symbolizing the path to enlightenment through thirteen stages.

Pilgrims perform clockwise circumambulations called kora, often chanting mantras like "Om Mani Padme Hum," while colorful prayer flags flutter in the wind around the monument. Originally built around the 5th to 7th century and rebuilt after damage during the 2015 earthquake, it remains a vibrant spiritual and cultural center, surrounded by monasteries and Tibetan communities, attracting devotees and visitors from all over the world.