Kopan Monastery

Kopan was founded in 1969 by Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche on a hill above Boudhanath, and it became the place where a great many Westerners first encountered Tibetan Buddhism seriously: the November course, a month of teaching, meditation and silence, has run since the early 1970s and has been attended by tens of thousands. The monastery now houses several hundred monks, mostly young, with a school and a shedra, and its gardens, prayer hall and stupa are open to visitors during the day. Shorter courses run through the year. The hill gives a view over the valley toward Boudhanath's dome. Casual visitors are welcome but the place is a working monastery and a teaching institution first.

What you actually see

• The prayer hall - the main gompa with its murals and thangkas.
• The gardens - terraced grounds on the hill with valley views.
• Young monks - the school community that fills the monastery.
• Course life - students on retreat when programmes are running.

When to go

October to April for the weather; the flagship month-long course runs through November and books out far ahead. Shorter courses run year round. Casual visits are best in the middle of the day between sessions.

Honest expectations

Courses must be booked months in advance and the November one fills quickly. During retreats parts of the monastery are closed and silence is kept. Casual visitors get the gardens and hall, which takes an hour. Accommodation for course participants is simple and shared.

Nearby

Boudhanath lies below the hill; Kathmandu is southwest.