Kathmandu Valley in Nepal – Buddhist Holy Places
Welcome to an online guide of Buddhist sites. The best way to visit Buddhist power places is with a Buddhist lama or a Buddhist practitioner who has a life transmission of knowledge about these Buddhist sites. If you cannot join such a guided tour this online guide might help you find the most important Buddhist holy places in the Kathmandu valley. The main goal of visiting such places is to develop one’s potential and reach enlightenment for the benefit of all beings. What is so special about these places is that a person’s mind becomes clearer and focused. This, in turn, makes it easier to meditate. In addition to using these opportunities for meditation purposes, it is also possible to buy candles and flowers for offerings.
Löbpen Tsechu Rinpoche once said that when we arrive in Kathmandu, we should first visit the Swayambhu Stupa. Therefore, we recommend visiting the following Buddhist sites if you only have a few days in Kathmandu.
Recommended 7-day Itinerary:
1st day: Swayambhu Stupa
2nd day: Boudha Stupa
3rd day: Pasupathi
4th day: Pharping
5th day: Red Wisdom sites
6th day: Namo Buddha
7th day and on: any sites from the list
In case you are staying at least 10 or 14 days and you would like to take a short trip to see mountains and caves and have a rest from the busy city, the Helambu trek (Hyolmo valley) with many Guru Rinpoche places and Milarepa cave would be a superb choice. For more info, see the Hyolmo Valley map.
Do You Want to Learn How to Meditate?
The main purpose of visiting Buddhist holy places is to recognize the nature of one’s mind through meditation. If you want to learn how to meditate, you can find the nearest Buddhist center here: www.karmapa.org
360 Degree Views of Kathmandu: www.360globe.net/nepal/kathmandu.html
Nepal Earthquake Support
A massive earthquake hit Nepal on April 25th, 2015.
There are several ways how you can help.
Visa for Nepal
To get through immigration control more quickly, it is possible to download the immigration form and fill it already before arriving in Kathmandu. You can download it here: http://www.nepalimmigration.gov.np/?page_id=119 Appendix 1 (Alternately, you can fill it out at Kathmandu Airport.) The visa fee in USD (http://www.nepalimmigration.gov.np/?page_id=114). Two passport photos are required.
March 2015 tourist visa fees:
25 USD 15 days
40 USD 30 days
100 USD 90 days
Taxi from /to the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu
Taxis from the airport to the shopping area with most restaurants in Thamel cost around 500 NPRs one way. It is a common practice to bargain. Don’t take the first taxi at the airport entrance, but go to the back of the parking lot where you can find a taxi for half the price.
If you find any discrepancy, feel free to contact us: buddhist.places@gmail.com
Download this map in KML format for your offline mobile maps
(Download the application „Locus Free“ into your smartphone, open www.buddhist-pilgrimage.org webpage in a browser in your phone
and click on the link above (map in KML format). Your phone will automatically offer you to open this file through the newly installed Locus Free app. Confirm import of this file and points on the map. Now you can use this map as your navigation for Buddhist holy sites in Kathmandu!)
How to work with the map: In the upper left-hand corner of the map, click on the square-like icon. A list of Buddhist sites will open up. Red pins designate Buddhist sites, and yellow squares mark recommended hotels, restaurants, train / bus stations, etc. Pick whichever place you want to visit, and click on its name from the list. A window with picture and basic info will open up. You may also change the map to the satellite view by clicking on the icon in the lower left-hand corner. For example, if you want to tour the Swayambhu area, click on the pin for the Swayambhu Stupa and enlarge the map for this particular stupa. Around the Swayambhu Stupa there are other Buddhist power places that you can explore when visiting this area.
Other Maps of Buddhist Power Places
Hyolmo Valley in Nepal – Buddhist Holy Places
Nepal (without Kathmandu) – Buddhist-Holy Places
Sikkim in India – Buddhist Holy Places