Today the Bouddhanath stupa is completely surrounded by modern settlements. In the past five decades, as many as 50 Buddhist gompas (monasteries) have also been constructed nearby. The main circle now has an array of shops, mainly for tourists. Bouddhanath continues to function as one of the most important Buddhist temples and has a constant flow of workshippers and tourists circling the stupa clockwise, and turning the hundreds of prayer wheels around it.
<br>Photo: Alex Treadway, Nepal
<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.flickr.com/people/26073140@N03">Etter Studio</a>
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