Fodor's Expert Review Bodnath Stupa

Around 2 miles northeast of central Kathmandu in the suburb of Boudha, the 14th-century Bodnath Stupa is the largest in Nepal, and the holiest Tibetan Buddhist temple outside Tibet. Although built in the Middle Ages following the Mughal invasions, it only truly soared in signifcance after the Chinese invasion of Tibet in 1959, which saw thousands of refugees flee across the border into exile. The large white dome of the stupa sits atop three irregularly shaped platforms that represent the Earth. Meanwhile, Buddha's eyes gaze serenely down at you from the square tower above the dome. A lot of Tibetans live in the narrow streets around the complex, so it's a colorful place to wander, browse the handicraft stalls, or eat momos (Tibetan dumplings).