SLEEPING IN A MONASTERY
2 DAYS TREK TO NAMO BUDDHA MONASTERY
A lot of people like to visit a Buddhist Monastery, but we offer to sleep, relax and enjoy the life in a Buddhist Monastery in Kathmandu Valley, Namo Buddha Monastery. Namo Buddha it’s one of the most important pilgrim sites in the valley, particularly for Tibetan Buddhists.
The car we will pick up us at 6.30 ( we need to be at 12 in the monastery to enjoy the lunch) in Asmita B&B and we will go to Panauiti village for start our trek. And we will start visiting Panauti Village on the way to Namo Buddha.
This historic city captures the urban design, elegant architecture and refined culture of a Nepalese town in the 12th century. The entire city is beautifully adorned with “patis”(open-air rest-houses); while the temples rose along the banks of its two holy rivers is a delight for the eyes.
Thousands of pilgrims flock there on the occasion of Makar Mela, which takes place once every twelve years in honor of Lord Shiva in the Brahmayani Temple.
The temple of Indreswar Mahadev, the protector of the inhabitants of Panauti, lies in the centre of the town. The three-storey temple is dedicated to Lord Siva. It was originally built in 1294 and rebuilt in the 15th century.
An earthquake caused serious damage in 1988 and the temple is poorly maintained. On the roof struts are some impressive Newari woodcarvings of forms of Siva and some erotic carvings.
Around the temple and in the courtyard are many shrines dedicated to various deities.Pots and pans that are donated by newlyweds are hung from the roof struts to guarantee a happy married life.
The Brahmayani Temple is from the 17th century, and it’s dedicated to Brahmayani who is the main goddess of the town. It is on the other side of the Pungamati Khola and is reached by a suspension bridge. This temple was renovated with French help in 1982-83.
There are many more temples and shrines, including one dedicated to Ahilya, the beautiful wife of the Vedic sage Vashistha. From here, you'll continue walking to the holy Namo Buddha, which means 'Hail to the Budha”.
We will walk crossing small villages and fields of wheat and potatoes during the winter and the spring and of rice during the summer. We will be witnesses the real rural life of the people who live there.
After 2 hours walking we will arrive at the village of Sankhu, when if you have the possibility you can buy local oranges to enjoy during the trek.
We will start going up for 1 hour in an easy way and we will arrive to Namo Buddha stupa and you can enjoy the beautiful view to the valley. The many flags and pilgrims dressed in colourful robes form a vibrant display around the bright white dome of the stupa.
We will cross the main door and we will enjoy with the beautiful buildings of the Monastery.
Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche has built a retreat centre, a college for higher Buddhist studies (Shedra), a secular school for young monks, a translation and publication house, a house for the office and staff and several guesthouses. As well, the main temple is nearing completion. The Mahakala Temple is also being finished and almost complete. Two new dormitories have been completed to house the shedra students.
We will go to our room and enjoy the lunch, that the monks we offer to us.
After lunch, we can relax in our room and if the day is clear we can enjoy the Himalaya or visit all Monastery. Also we will enjoy the sunset over the Himalayas.
Information about Namo Buddha Monastery:
The Main Temple : The exterior building is complete and now the process of finishing is underway. Designed by Thrangu Rinpoche as a representation of the three yanas or path, it is beautiful, elegant and filled with symbolic meaning as befits this holy Buddhist pilgrimage place.
The Mahakala Temple: This temple is almost complete. It will house the statues of the protectors of the Kagyu lineage. A group of monks will stay in retreat in the temple and will be performing Mahakala puja continuously.
The Dewachen Temple: This temple was built especially to house the cremated remains of the deceased. Inside the temple are many cubicles where the remains can be placed in a container with the name of each person and a photo if desired. Those wishing to make use of the temple make a donation to the monks and the monks of Namo Buddht say daily prayers for the deceased as well there are ceremonies on special days. There is a shrine inside the temple with statue of “Amitabha”.
The Branch School for young Monks: More than 100 young monks are attending school from nursery to Class Four at Namo Buddha. The school is a branch school of Thrangu Rinpoche’s school in Boudha (Shree Mangal Dvip). There is a school building and a separate dormitory building. The monks up to Class Ten go to the school in Boudha. The monk Tashi Wangchuk is headmaster of the Monk School and all the teachers are monks. Staying at Namo Buddha has improved their health and helped to relieve the overcrowding at both the monastery and the school in Boudha.
The old Stupa : The name of the stupa is linked to one of the 'Jataka' legends recounting the previous lives, where Gautam Buddha had fed his own flesh to a hungry tigress who had just given a new birth.
Namo Buddha it’s one of the most important pilgrim sites in the valley, particularly for Tibetan Buddhists.
In the morning we will enjoy the sunrise, we will have breakfast and we start our trek back to Panuti.
The car we will pick up us and if you like you can stop in Bhaktapur or Thimi and visit by yourself and come back later at Asmita B&B by taxi or bus.
Price per person ( budget for 2 or 3 people) : 85 $
Single trekkers 125 $
Including :
· Transportation KTM- Panauti-KTM
· 1 night sleep in Namo Buddha Monastery
· Snack for the first day trek also breakfast, lunch and dinner in Namo Buddha Monastery.
· 1 guide for all trek.
To enlarge the pictures click in one.
The car we will pick up us at 6.30 ( we need to be at 12 in the monastery to enjoy the lunch) in Asmita B&B and we will go to Panauiti village for start our trek. And we will start visiting Panauti Village on the way to Namo Buddha.
This historic city captures the urban design, elegant architecture and refined culture of a Nepalese town in the 12th century. The entire city is beautifully adorned with “patis”(open-air rest-houses); while the temples rose along the banks of its two holy rivers is a delight for the eyes.
Thousands of pilgrims flock there on the occasion of Makar Mela, which takes place once every twelve years in honor of Lord Shiva in the Brahmayani Temple.
The temple of Indreswar Mahadev, the protector of the inhabitants of Panauti, lies in the centre of the town. The three-storey temple is dedicated to Lord Siva. It was originally built in 1294 and rebuilt in the 15th century.
An earthquake caused serious damage in 1988 and the temple is poorly maintained. On the roof struts are some impressive Newari woodcarvings of forms of Siva and some erotic carvings.
Around the temple and in the courtyard are many shrines dedicated to various deities.Pots and pans that are donated by newlyweds are hung from the roof struts to guarantee a happy married life.
The Brahmayani Temple is from the 17th century, and it’s dedicated to Brahmayani who is the main goddess of the town. It is on the other side of the Pungamati Khola and is reached by a suspension bridge. This temple was renovated with French help in 1982-83.
There are many more temples and shrines, including one dedicated to Ahilya, the beautiful wife of the Vedic sage Vashistha. From here, you'll continue walking to the holy Namo Buddha, which means 'Hail to the Budha”.
We will walk crossing small villages and fields of wheat and potatoes during the winter and the spring and of rice during the summer. We will be witnesses the real rural life of the people who live there.
After 2 hours walking we will arrive at the village of Sankhu, when if you have the possibility you can buy local oranges to enjoy during the trek.
We will start going up for 1 hour in an easy way and we will arrive to Namo Buddha stupa and you can enjoy the beautiful view to the valley. The many flags and pilgrims dressed in colourful robes form a vibrant display around the bright white dome of the stupa.
We will cross the main door and we will enjoy with the beautiful buildings of the Monastery.
Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche has built a retreat centre, a college for higher Buddhist studies (Shedra), a secular school for young monks, a translation and publication house, a house for the office and staff and several guesthouses. As well, the main temple is nearing completion. The Mahakala Temple is also being finished and almost complete. Two new dormitories have been completed to house the shedra students.
We will go to our room and enjoy the lunch, that the monks we offer to us.
After lunch, we can relax in our room and if the day is clear we can enjoy the Himalaya or visit all Monastery. Also we will enjoy the sunset over the Himalayas.
Information about Namo Buddha Monastery:
The Main Temple : The exterior building is complete and now the process of finishing is underway. Designed by Thrangu Rinpoche as a representation of the three yanas or path, it is beautiful, elegant and filled with symbolic meaning as befits this holy Buddhist pilgrimage place.
The Mahakala Temple: This temple is almost complete. It will house the statues of the protectors of the Kagyu lineage. A group of monks will stay in retreat in the temple and will be performing Mahakala puja continuously.
The Dewachen Temple: This temple was built especially to house the cremated remains of the deceased. Inside the temple are many cubicles where the remains can be placed in a container with the name of each person and a photo if desired. Those wishing to make use of the temple make a donation to the monks and the monks of Namo Buddht say daily prayers for the deceased as well there are ceremonies on special days. There is a shrine inside the temple with statue of “Amitabha”.
The Branch School for young Monks: More than 100 young monks are attending school from nursery to Class Four at Namo Buddha. The school is a branch school of Thrangu Rinpoche’s school in Boudha (Shree Mangal Dvip). There is a school building and a separate dormitory building. The monks up to Class Ten go to the school in Boudha. The monk Tashi Wangchuk is headmaster of the Monk School and all the teachers are monks. Staying at Namo Buddha has improved their health and helped to relieve the overcrowding at both the monastery and the school in Boudha.
The old Stupa : The name of the stupa is linked to one of the 'Jataka' legends recounting the previous lives, where Gautam Buddha had fed his own flesh to a hungry tigress who had just given a new birth.
Namo Buddha it’s one of the most important pilgrim sites in the valley, particularly for Tibetan Buddhists.
In the morning we will enjoy the sunrise, we will have breakfast and we start our trek back to Panuti.
The car we will pick up us and if you like you can stop in Bhaktapur or Thimi and visit by yourself and come back later at Asmita B&B by taxi or bus.
Price per person ( budget for 2 or 3 people) : 85 $
Single trekkers 125 $
Including :
· Transportation KTM- Panauti-KTM
· 1 night sleep in Namo Buddha Monastery
· Snack for the first day trek also breakfast, lunch and dinner in Namo Buddha Monastery.
· 1 guide for all trek.
To enlarge the pictures click in one.