Musum Bahal (Manisingha Mahavihar)
मुसुम बहाल
A unique 'double bahal' in old Kathmandu with inner and outer courtyards, each counted as separate mahavihars, and an active center of Vajrayana Buddhist learning.
Dedicated To
Vajrayana Buddhist shrine
Period
Medieval
Hours
Open courtyard (accessible during daytime)
Entry Fee
Free
Neighborhood
Kwane Puin, downtown Old Kathmandu
Location
Kathmandu, Bagmati
Visiting Etiquette
Remove shoes before entering shrines. Be respectful of ongoing teachings and rituals. Ask permission before photographing inside.
Musum Bahal, formally known as Manisingha Mahavihar, is a unique Buddhist monastery in downtown old Kathmandu. What makes it architecturally distinctive is its 'double bahal' structure — inner and outer Musum Bahal each count as separate mahavihars among Kathmandu's 18 principal monasteries.
The monastery is an active center of Vajrayana Buddhist learning, home to the renowned teacher Manju Bajra Bajracharya (Jamana Gubhaju), making it one of the few bahals where visitors can still encounter living tantric Buddhist scholarship and practice.
Located in the historic Kwane Puin (downtown) quarter of old Kathmandu, Musum Bahal is surrounded by the dense medieval urban fabric that characterizes the city's oldest neighborhoods. The twin courtyard structure offers a fascinating architectural variation on the standard bahal layout.
The monastery's dual identity as both a heritage site and an active teaching center makes it particularly valuable for visitors interested in understanding how Vajrayana Buddhist traditions continue to be transmitted in the modern Kathmandu Valley.