In the latest case, Nepalese police say a man thought to be in his 20s set himself alight at a cafe near Boudhanath Stupa in the capital, Kathmandu.

BBC: Tibetan man sets himself on fire in Nepal

The glowing peaks and spires of the Temple of the Emerald Buddha are sublime, closely rivalled by the illuminated stupa of Wat Arun (the Temple of Dawn).

BBC: Take the boat out of Bangkok

Later, you'll visit the Jiva spa or the Sarnath Stupa (the site of Buddha's first teachings), take a carriage ride, or return to town to shop for brocade or visit the evening aarti (prayer ceremony).

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When travelling Khlong Saen Saeb from east to west, motorboat buses terminate at Wat Saket, a late 18th-century temple topped by a golden stupa, and it takes about an hour to ride directly from the first stop at Wat Si Bunrueang.

BBC: Exploring Bangkok��s canals