1 Day Buddhist Monasteries Tour (Kathmandu Valley)

1 Day Buddhist Monasteries Tour (Kathmandu Valley)

Kopan Monastery is a serene sacred place that lies on the Himalayan foothills inside Kathmandu Valley which is surrounded by lush of green forests. Despite being a sacred place for Buddhists, it welcomes the visitors around the world following any religions or cultures.

The monastery is stunningly gorgeous with large open space grounds and gardens at the back which offers you the breathtaking view of Kathmandu Valley, hills, mountains and beyond. The place is popular for Buddhists study, meditation, retreat, and practice. The atmosphere here is charged with spiritual energy that is almost tangible which definitely gives you a life-changing experience.

You can also find decent restaurants serving delicious foods and book stores with many works in English. The visitors may enter inside the stupa typically from 9 am to 5 pm.

Itinerary

The 36-meter-high stupa of Boudhanath is one of the largest stupas in South Asia. With countless monasteries surrounding it, Boudhanath is the center of Tibetan Buddhism in Nepal.

Built in the shape of a mandala designed to replicate the Gyangtse of Tibet, the stupa was renovated by Licchhavi rulers in the 8th century. The location of the stupa is interesting as it once lay on the ancient trade route to Tibet and it was here that Tibetan merchants rested and offered prayers for centuries.

On each side are a pair of the all-seeing-eyes of the Buddha symbolizing awareness. The canopy has 13 stages. At ground level there is a brick wall with 147 niches and 108 images of the meditational Buddha inset behind copper prayer wheels.

Duration: 1 hour

Location: Boudhanath Stupa, Boudh, Kathmandu 44600 Nepal

One of the most popular monasteries of Tibetan Buddhism is the Kapan Monastery which is perched on a hill not far north of Boudha. Each year a large number of foreigners arrive here to study Buddhism and meditation. Kapan Monastery was founded by Lama Thubten Yeshe who died in 1984. Interestingly, a small Spanish boy named Osel Torres became his successor after he was declared a reincarnation of the great Lama. However, the reincarnation does not reside at Kapan anymore.

Duration: 2 hours

Location: Kopan Monastery, Kathmandu Nepal

Find peace and prayers on the little hillock of Swaymbhunath in the northwest of the Kathmandu Valley. Also known as the "Monkey Temple" among visitors from abroad, Swayambhunath sits atop its hill, overlooking most parts of the valley. This is a good place to catch panoramic views of the city. The site itself has stood as a hallmark of faith and harmony for centuries. The glory of Kathmandu Valley is said to have started from this point.

Resting on a hillock 3 km west of Kathmandu, Swayambhunath is one of the holiest Buddhist Chaityas in Nepal. It is said to have evolved spontaneously when the valley was created out of a primordial lake more than 2,000 years ago. This stupa is the oldest of its kind in Nepal and has numerous shrines and monasteries on its premises.

Duration: 1 hour

Location: Swayambhunath Maha Chaitya, Kathmandu 44600, Nepal