Overview
This Kapan monastery day tour is a day visit to monasteries in one calm corner of the Kathmandu Valley: the hills and lanes north of Boudhanath, where three Tibetan Buddhist monasteries sit a short drive apart. You begin at Kopan Monastery, a Gelug-tradition centre founded in 1969 on a quiet hilltop above Boudhanath, where prayer halls, gardens and long valley views set the mood. From there you drive along the foothills to Pullahari (also written Phulhari), a Karma Kagyu monastery named after the monastery of the Indian master Naropa, where a golden stupa holds the relics of the Third Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche. Then comes Shechen Monastery, the Nyingma monastery that Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche began building beside the Boudhanath stupa in 1980, known for the painted walls of its main temple, and the day ends with a walk around the great Boudhanath Stupa itself. It is a contemplative day of hilltops, prayer halls and quiet courtyards, with short drives and gentle walking in between.
The itinerary
- Morning pickup from your hotel and drive to hilltop Kopan Monastery above Boudhanath, with its prayer halls, gardens and valley views
- Drive the short way along the foothills to Pullahari Monastery, the Karma Kagyu seat of the Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoches, which is open to drop-in visitors
- See the golden relic stupa of the Third Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche and the shrine hall, then drive down to Boudhanath
- Visit Shechen Monastery and its painted main temple, reached from the lanes beside the stupa without the Boudhanath entry ticket
- Lunch break near the stupa, then walk the kora around Boudhanath Stupa (entry is an optional extra) and drive back to your hotel
What the price covers
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Things to carry
- Modest clothing that covers shoulders and knees for the shrines
- Slip-on shoes that are easy to remove at temple entrances
- A camera or phone for the hilltop views and monastery grounds
- Sunglasses, sun hat and sunscreen for the open hillsides
- A little cash for offerings, tea and small purchases
Good to know
Complete guide
The Kathmandu Valley is dotted with Tibetan Buddhist monasteries, and many of them sit in the hills and lanes around Boudhanath. This day visit to monasteries stays in that one north-eastern corner, so you spend your time in prayer halls and courtyards rather than in traffic, and it links three monasteries from three different schools of Tibetan Buddhism. Here is how it works.
What the Kapan monastery day tour covers
The day runs from Kopan Monastery on its hilltop, along the foothills to Pullahari, and down to Shechen Monastery and a walk around the Boudhanath stupa. All three sit in the north-east of the valley, so the drives are short and the day stays unhurried. If you would rather focus on the stupa and temple heart of the city, the Patan, Boudhanath and Pashupatinath day tour keeps to the central monuments in a single day.
Kopan Monastery and its hill
Kopan, founded in 1969 in the Gelug tradition and part of the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition, is the calm opening to the day. Its hilltop position above Boudhanath gives long views over the valley, and its gardens and prayer halls are made for slow wandering. Because it is an active monastery known for its month-long meditation courses, it rewards a quiet, unhurried visit rather than a quick photo stop.
Pullahari and Shechen monasteries
Pullahari, in the foothills north of Boudhanath, is the Karma Kagyu monastery set up by the Third Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche and opened in 1992. It takes its name from the monastery of the Indian master Naropa, and its main object of reverence is the golden stupa holding the Third Jamgon Kongtrul's relics. Shechen Tennyi Dargyeling, beside the great stupa, is the Nyingma monastery Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche began building in 1980, and the walls of its main temple are painted with the history of Tibetan Buddhism. Seeing three schools, Gelug, Kagyu and Nyingma, a short drive apart is the heart of the trip. The day finishes with the kora around the Boudhanath stupa. Its entry fee is not included, so add it as an optional extra when you enquire or pay at the gate. Shechen sits in the lanes beside the stupa, and you can visit it without the Boudhanath ticket.
Who this tour suits
This suits travellers drawn to religion, quiet places and the culture of the valley rather than mountain views, with only gentle walking at each stop and comfortable drives in between. It is a calmer, more reflective alternative to the busy central-city circuits. For an evening of ritual and lamplight instead, the Boudhanath and Pashupatinath aarti tour catches the sunset ceremonies at the two great sites.
