Boudhanath – The Eye of Heaven over Kathmandu

On approach to Kathmandu, the Boudhanath Stupa appeared in the warm morning light – a golden eye amid the city. Surrounded by narrow streets and concentric paths of pilgrims, the vast dome shimmered quietly below. Even from the air, it was clear that this place is more than architecture: it is a center of faith, visible all the way to the sky.

A Symbol of Tibetan Buddhism

Located in the northeastern part of Kathmandu, Boudhanath is one of the most important sanctuaries of Tibetan Buddhism. Its monumental white dome and gilded tower, painted with the all-seeing eyes of Buddha, rise above the Kathmandu Valley. Around it, monasteries, prayer wheels, and small shops form a microcosm of sound, color, and devotion – the spiritual heartbeat of Nepal.

After the Dalai Lama’s flight from Tibet in 1959, Boudhanath became a new center of Tibetan culture. Monks, nuns, and pilgrims walk clockwise around the stupa, softly reciting Om Mani Padme Hum. In the morning light, the entire scene seems to vibrate with still intensity – a harmony of motion, awareness, and timelessness that can be felt even from above.

The Eye of Heaven

From the air, the Boudhanath Stupa looks like the eye of heaven itself. The circular paths surrounding it form symbolic rings of life, while the golden spire reflects the light of enlightenment emanating from its heart. Between city and silence, history and belief, Boudhanath embodies a balance that has grown through the centuries.

An Image from Another Time

This photograph was taken in 1994 during the final approach to Kathmandu – captured on film with a Nikon camera using FUJI slide film. Many years later, the original transparency was digitized with a Nikon film scanner and restored as a RAW/DNG file. The visible film grain remains, preserving the authenticity of its time and the photographic limits of that era. In this texture lies its charm – a moment of light, held on film and carried forward through change.