Monastery · Buddhist
Namo Buddha (Thrangu Tashi Yangtse Monastery)
नमोबुद्ध
Prince Mahasattva / Shakyamuni Buddha·Ancient legend; modern monastery 1978·Kavrepalanchok
One of the three holiest Tibetan Buddhist pilgrimage sites in Nepal, where legend says a prince offered his body to a starving tigress.
Dedicated to
Prince Mahasattva / Shakyamuni Buddha
Period
Ancient legend; modern monastery 1978
Hours
Dawn to dusk (monastery prayers 5:30 AM and 3:00 PM)
Admission
Free
Neighborhood
Namo Buddha Hill
Namo Buddha is one of the most important Tibetan Buddhist pilgrimage sites in Nepal, located on a serene hillside in Kavrepalanchok district, about 40km southeast of Kathmandu.
According to Buddhist legend, this is where Prince Mahasattva (a previous incarnation of the Buddha) offered his body to a starving tigress and her cubs — an act of supreme compassion that became one of the most celebrated Jataka tales. A marble stupa marks the spot where this sacrifice is said to have occurred.
The Thrangu Tashi Yangtse Monastery, established by Thrangu Rinpoche, is a large and active Tibetan Buddhist monastery complex with several hundred monks and a Buddhist university. Visitors can observe daily prayer ceremonies, stay in the monastery guesthouse, and walk meditation paths through the surrounding forests.
The area is also popular as a day hike from Dhulikhel or Panauti, through terraced rice paddies and traditional Tamang villages.
Best visited in autumn.autumn: best, 8°C to 24°C. Crystal-clear Himalayan panorama from the stupa. Perfect hiking conditions from Dhulikhel. Monastery festivals possible. monsoon: possible, 18°C to 27°C. Trail can be muddy. The monastery grounds are lush and green. Peaceful meditation atmosphere with fewer visitors. spring: good, 10°C to 26°C. Pleasant hiking weather from Dhulikhel. The monastery gardens are in bloom. Good mountain views on clear mornings. winter: good, 2°C to 18°C. Cold but clear. Stunning mountain views. The monastery is peaceful and uncrowded. Warm up with butter tea.
The Almanac
| Season | Months | Rating | Temperature | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| spring | Mar–May | Good | 10° — 26°C | Pleasant hiking weather from Dhulikhel. The monastery gardens are in bloom. Good mountain views on clear mornings. |
| monsoon | Jun–Sep | Possible | 18° — 27°C | Trail can be muddy. The monastery grounds are lush and green. Peaceful meditation atmosphere with fewer visitors. |
| autumn | Oct–Nov | Best | 8° — 24°C | Crystal-clear Himalayan panorama from the stupa. Perfect hiking conditions from Dhulikhel. Monastery festivals possible. |
| winter | Dec–Feb | Good | 2° — 18°C | Cold but clear. Stunning mountain views. The monastery is peaceful and uncrowded. Warm up with butter tea. |
- spring Mar–May
- Pleasant hiking weather from Dhulikhel. The monastery gardens are in bloom. Good mountain views on clear mornings.
- monsoon Jun–Sep
- Trail can be muddy. The monastery grounds are lush and green. Peaceful meditation atmosphere with fewer visitors.
- autumn Oct–Nov
- Crystal-clear Himalayan panorama from the stupa. Perfect hiking conditions from Dhulikhel. Monastery festivals possible.
- winter Dec–Feb
- Cold but clear. Stunning mountain views. The monastery is peaceful and uncrowded. Warm up with butter tea.
Folio III
Situation
Coda