Om Bahal (Brahmachakra Mahavihar)
ओम बहाल
One of the 18 principal mahavihars of Kathmandu, the 'Wheel of Creation Monastery' lends its name to the surrounding neighborhood.
Dedicated To
Vajrayana Buddhist shrine
Period
Medieval (part of the 18 Mahavihar network)
Hours
Open courtyard (accessible during daytime)
Entry Fee
Free
Neighborhood
Om Bahal, Kwane Puin, Old Kathmandu
Location
Kathmandu, Bagmati
Visiting Etiquette
Remove shoes before entering shrines. Walk clockwise. Be respectful of residents — this is a living neighborhood.
Om Bahal, formally known as Brahmachakra Mahavihar ('Wheel of Brahma/Creation Monastery'), is one of the 18 principal mahavihars of Kathmandu under the Acharya Guthi system. The name carries deep cosmological symbolism in Vajrayana Buddhism, connecting the monastery to cycles of creation and spiritual transformation.
The neighborhood itself is named after the bahal, demonstrating the monastery's historical importance as a community anchor — a pattern seen throughout the Kathmandu Valley where bahals serve as both spiritual centers and the organizing units of urban neighborhoods.
Located in the Kwane Puin quarter of old Kathmandu, Om Bahal maintains a traditional courtyard layout with an active Bajracharya community continuing centuries-old ritual traditions. The monastery is part of the dense network of sacred sites that makes old Kathmandu one of the most spiritually concentrated urban areas in Asia.
For visitors exploring the lesser-known bahals of Kathmandu, Om Bahal offers an authentic experience far from the tourist trail, where Buddhist practice continues much as it has for centuries.