Description: he largest Buddhist stupa around Kathmandu is found at Bodhnath. This used to be out in the country - NE of Kathmandu, about 3-4 km from the ring road. It is north of the large Hindu temple complex of Pashupatinath by a few km and you can easily walk between the two complexes, though it is easy to get lost in the warrens of little streets on the north side of the Bagmati river. The stupa is very large and is ringed by a large walkway in which pilgrims can go - clockwise - around the stupa. The stupa is also ringed by buildings - some are monasteries - most of the buildings are filled with tourist shops and the sound of new age music pours forth from the cd players. Walking up on the stupa and looking to the west, you get a weird contrast as you look over a monastery and see the Hyatt Regency in the distance - seemingly as large as the temples in Lhasa.