Boudha is the Tibetan neighbourhood that grew up around the great stupa of Boudhanath, east of the city centre. Since the influx of Tibetan refugees after 1959, it has become the most important centre of Tibetan Buddhist culture outside Tibet itself. Dozens of monasteries of different Tibetan Buddhist lineages ring the stupa; the streets are full of monks in maroon robes, butter lamp shops, and thangka galleries.
The neighbourhood is worth spending a full half-day in, beyond a quick visit to the stupa. The rooftop restaurants and cafes give good views over the stupa dome; the morning kora (circumambulation walk) with the local Tibetan community is one of the most quietly moving things Kathmandu offers.