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
Trail can be muddy. The monastery grounds are lush and green. Peaceful meditation atmosphere with fewer visitors.
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