Bahal · Buddhist
Bhinche Bahal (Mayurvarna Mahavihar)
मयूरवर्ण महाविहार❊भिन्चे बहा:
Vajrayana Buddhist shrine·Medieval (part of the 18 Mahavihar network)·Lalitpur
One of the 18 principal mahavihars of Patan, the 'Peacock-colored Monastery' is a well-preserved example of the traditional bahal pilgrimage circuit.
Dedicated to
Vajrayana Buddhist shrine
Period
Medieval (part of the 18 Mahavihar network)
Hours
Open courtyard (accessible during daytime)
Admission
Free
Neighborhood
Central Patan, near Pilache Bahal
Bhinche Bahal, formally known as Mayurvarna Mahavihar (meaning 'Peacock-colored Monastery'), is one of the 18 principal mahavihars of Patan under the traditional Acharya Guthi network. These 18 bahals form a sacred pilgrimage circuit that has been central to Newar Buddhist practice for centuries.
The name 'Mayurvarna' reflects the decorative traditions of Newar Buddhist art, where vivid colors and intricate metalwork bring monastery courtyards to life. The bahal features traditional courtyard architecture surrounded by cells that originally housed monks and now serve the Bajracharya priestly community.
As part of the 18-bahal network, Bhinche Bahal plays a role in collective rituals that bind Patan's Buddhist community together. The adjacent park area provides a peaceful setting that contrasts with the dense urban fabric of old Patan.
Visiting Bhinche Bahal alongside other bahals in the neighborhood offers insight into the remarkable density of Buddhist heritage in Patan — a city that holds more Buddhist monasteries per square kilometer than almost anywhere else in the world.
Best visited in autumn.autumn: best, 10°C to 27°C. Ideal weather for walking Patan's bahal circuit. Clear light on the ancient brick and wood architecture. monsoon: possible, 20°C to 30°C. Sheltered courtyard accessible even in rain. Few visitors. Authentic Newari neighborhood life continues around you. spring: good, 12°C to 30°C. Warm weather for exploring Patan's hidden courtyards. Combine with nearby Golden Temple and Mahabouddha. winter: good, 2°C to 20°C. Peaceful winter mornings in the courtyard. Few tourists. The carved wooden windows glow in low winter sun.
The Almanac
Sheltered courtyard accessible even in rain. Few visitors. Authentic Newari neighborhood life continues around you.
Folio III
Nearby Sacred Sites
Places within a short walk that help turn this stop into a small sacred cluster.
Yachu Bahal (Baladhara Gupta Mahavihar)
Baladhara Gupta Mahavihar (Yachu Bahal) is one of the 18 traditional bahals of Patan, a quiet Buddhist monastery courtyard in the old city.
Mahabouddha Temple (Temple of a Thousand Buddhas)
A unique shikhara-style tower entirely covered in terracotta tiles, each bearing a hand-carved image of Buddha, modeled after the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya.
Guji Bahal (Vaishravarna Mahavihar)
One of the 18 principal mahavihars of Patan, named after Vaishravana (Kubera), the Buddhist guardian king of the north and deity of wealth.
Ta Bahal (Dharma Kirti Mahavihar)
Dharma Kirti Mahavihar (Ta Bahal) is one of Patan's 18 principal bahals — the 'Monastery of Dharma's Glory', preserving Newar Buddhist traditions.
Rudravarna Mahavihar (Okubahal)
An ancient 6th-century Newar Buddhist monastery in Patan with three interconnected courtyards, renowned for its exquisite stone and metal sculptures.
Coda
Continue the Pilgrimage
Planning this visit? Local operators publishing trips here can arrange it.
Elsewhere in this region
Help us get it right
Know Bhinche Bahal (Mayurvarna Mahavihar) better than we do?
We write from research and reporting, and the ground changes faster than we can keep up. If something here is out of date, or you have been and would tell it differently, we would rather hear it.