Abbeys monasteries and convents Nepal

Entrusted to the Japanese architect Kenzo Tange, this vast area is home to a large number of Buddhist monasteries built by different countries or communities. Its two parts are located on either side of a central canal. To the west are the Chinese monastery Zhong Hua, the Korean, Vietnamese and Nepalese temples, the Grand Stupa Lotus and the monastery of the French congregation Ling Son. To the east are the monasteries of Thailand, Sri Lanka and Cambodia, as well as the Golden Temple (Burma) which has a large golden stupa.

Tsamchen Gompa is the onlyTibetan Buddhist monastery to open directly onto the stūpa. It houses superb paintings and a Buddha from the future. But many other gompas surround the stūpa: Tamang Gompa, Kagyupa Gompa, Chinya-Lama Gompa, Nyingmapa Gompa, Tarik Gompa... Most can be visited, except in the middle of the day. Further east, Samtenling Gompa is the oldest. The large Kopan monastery (in the nearby mountains) and Shechen monastery provide accommodation for visitors. The latter is famous for one of its monks: the Frenchman Matthieu Ricard.