The best accommodations Bodnath

This hotel, located on the very edge of the Stupa, offers rooms of very contrasting standards. The suites facing the stupa are expensive and luxurious, while the standard rooms open onto an interior corridor on the second floor. All are equipped with air-conditioning and en-suite bathrooms. The bathrooms in the standard rooms, which lack natural light, could be improved, but the facilities are decent nonetheless. A delicious breakfast is served on the hotel's rooftop, with a breathtaking view of the stupa.

This guesthouse, part of the Shechen monastery, is charmingly understated. The buildings are attractive, bordering a garden planted with trees. The 23 rooms are quiet and well-equipped: pretty bedspread, wardrobe, kettle, parquet flooring... everything you need is here, even if comfort remains modest. In the center, a pleasant garden where fresh salads and herbs are grown is used to supply the kitchens of the adjoining Rabsel Café, which offers vegetarian dishes: tofu, pasta, rice dishes... It's a welcoming place where you can chat with the monks.

Kopan monastery near Bodnath is known for teaching Buddhism to Westerners. The first meditation course was held in 1971. Teachings lasting between 5 and 10 days are given throughout the year (see the calendar on their website). You can also come on a Buddhist retreat, provided you have already been initiated, but the monastery does not offer Vipassana retreats. You can also stay at the monastery during authorized periods, or simply visit during the day. Decent clothing is required, but admission is free.

Just a stone's throw from the Bodnath stupa, this small, recently-built hotel adjoining the Thrangu monastery offers absolute peace and quiet. It houses 21 spacious, well-equipped rooms (air-conditioning, TV, wi-fi, coffee machine...) all decorated in the Tibetan spirit, with a lot of art, they have a real cachet, just like the hotel. The atmosphere here is clearly Zen. Its best feature is the charming indoor pool, which is very relaxing after a day's walking in the city. At the entrance, the Lotus Gems Café is very pleasant.

Just a few minutes from the stupa, this hotel is set back from the main street, relatively sheltered from noise, pollution and hustle and bustle. The welcome is pleasant and professional. The 36 rooms, especially those on the opposite side of the street, are quiet, sunny and offer a high level of comfort (air-conditioning, coffee machine...). All are furnished in a blend of modern and Tibetan styles. A rooftop terrace offers a beautiful view of the stupa. The hotel also boasts a restaurant and a superb spa (massages).