Kopan Monastery (Kapan)
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4-Day Nepal Heritage, Religious, and Cultural Tour including 3 Star hotel
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5-Day Nepal Heritage, Nature, and Cultural Tour including Air Travel with 3 Star+ Hotel
Kathmandu(2N) → Pokhara(2N)
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5-Day Nepal Heritage, Nature, and Cultural Tour including Air Travel with 5 Star hotel
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5 Night 6 Days Nepal Religious, Heritage Tour for 6 Person
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6-Day Enchanting Nepal Tour with 3-Star Hotels
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4-Day Nepal Kathmandu Luxury Tour with Mount Everest by flight
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Tags : Buddhist Temple
Timings : 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM every day
The monastery doesn't allow visitors between 11th November and 20th December
Entry Fee : No entry fee
Kapan Monastery
Ways to Experience this attraction
Kapan Monastery, Kathmandu Overview
Kopan Monastery, a 20-minute drive from central Kathmandu, is a working Tibetan Buddhist monastery founded in the late 1960s that still runs meditation retreats and short courses open to visitors. Climb the hill for views over the Kathmandu Valley, sit in on a class, or just walk the grounds for an hour; no booking needed for a casual visit.
It is a well-known tourist attraction and draws people who are interested in learning Tibetan Mahayana Buddhism. One can choose to enroll in a short-term (7 days) course to get a gist of this ancient way of living. The facilities are humble but ensure that everyone leaves feeling calm and composed. They have a cafe where tourists can have a simple and wholesome vegetarian meal before taking a nice long stroll in the monastery gardens. Everyone is welcome to witness the peace even if it is just for an hour.
Read More on Kapan Monastery
History of Kopan Monastery
Kopan Monastery was established by Thubten Yeshe and Thubten Zopa Rinpoche who were the founders of the Foundation of the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition. In 1969, they bought a piece of land from a royal astrologer in Nepal and around 1971, opened it as a monastery to teach Mahayana Buddhism to people from all over the world. The courses include the teachings of Buddha Shakyamuni, regular guided meditations, formal and informal discussions and a strict vegetarian diet.
In the beginning, there were only 25 monks, but as of today, the monastery is home to over 350 people including the monks, the teachers, lamas and the worker staff. In 1981, two nuns joined the monastery and marked a new beginning in its history. The students come from all over the world to devote their lives to the study and practice of the invaluable teachings of Buddha and Lama Tsong Khapa who is the founder of Gelug lineage. The female students now live in the Khachoe Ghakyil Ling Nunnery which is located a little ahead of the Kopan Monastery.
Events and Festivals in Kopan Monastery
Other than Buddhist monastic education, the monastery also conducts several Monastic events. The Losar (Tibetan New Year), Monlam (Great Prayer Festival), Tsip Shag (students progressing to a higher class), Sukkor Pooja & Rigjung Debate (completion of beginner level of study), Yarne and Gaya (Observance of the annual Rains Retreat), Ganden Ngamchoe (a day dedicated to Lama Tsong Khapa) and other special days of Gautama Buddha are observed and celebrated with great devotion. Each event marks a new beginning and helps students learn Buddhism in depth.
Popular Courses
Introductory courses to learn about the basics of Buddhism happen throughout the year.
The Next Step:
These are the advanced courses for in-depth study of Buddhism. These courses too happen throughout the year.
Daily Dharma Talks:
During private stay times, when there are no other courses scheduled, 90 minute daily talks, meditation sessions and Q&A sessions are planned.
November Program:
This month-long course is based on the teachings of Shakyamuni Buddha
FPMT Basic Program:
This is a five-year-long study program for Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition Buddhism.
Retreats:
One can choose from Group Retreats and Private Retreats. Group Retreats are for the people doing a year-long course. In private retreats, FPMT students are preferred due to limited space.
For more information on the courses, you can directly send an email to the Kopan Monastery.
