The stupa is said to entomb the remains of Kassapa Buddha.[4] It is located on the ancient trade route from Tibet which enters the Kathmandu Valley by the village of Sankhu in the northeast corner and continues to the ancient and smaller stupa of Chabahil named Charumati Stupa (often called "Little Boudhanath"). It then turns directly south, heading over the Bagmati River to Lalitpur, bypassing the main city of Kathmandu (which was built later).[2] Tibetan merchants have rested and offered prayers at Boudha Stupa for many centuries. Following the 1959 Tibetan uprising, a large number of the Tibetan refugees migrated to Nepal and settled down around Boudhanath.[5] The influx of the Tibetan refugees has seen the construction of over 50 gompas (Budhhist monasteries) around Boudha.