Namo Buddha: Nepal’s Sacred Buddhist Pilgrimage Site
Namo Buddha (also written as Namobuddha) is one of the most sacred Buddhist pilgrimage sites in Nepal. I first visited Namo Buddha around eight years ago, and recently, I was on a trip to Dhulikhel and decided to make a side trip here.
Namo Buddha is a great place to visit for a day trip from Kathmandu, or if you want to learn about Buddhism, you can even book a stay at the monastery. If you are staying at the monastery, you get to join the monks at their morning prayers, and also have breakfast and dinner with them.
We only visited Namo Buddha as a short trip for half a day, which was enough to explore the monastery, stupa and the surrounding area. We didn’t have the chance to see the monks pray, and if I came back again, I would plan to stay for 1-3 days, so I could immerse myself more in Buddhism.
Information for Visiting
Best Time to Visit
Namo Buddha can be visited all year round but the weather is generally the best in autumn (October-November) and spring (March-May). The weather is the best during these times, and it is also when you have the best chance of views of the Himalayas. We visited in June (pre-monsoon season), and we only got views of the nearby hills as it was too cloudy.
Another good time to visit Namo Buddha is during one of the major Buddhist festivals in Nepal, like the Buddha Jayanti (Buddha’s Birthday) in April/May or during the Namo Buddha Jatra in November. A lot of people visit on these dates so it can get busy. The festivals are celebrated by music, dance, and people paying homage to Lord Buddha.
How Long to Spend in Namo Buddha
It depends. If you want to visit Namo Buddha only for a short trip and go by a private vehicle, then it can be visited as a day trip from Kathmandu. This gives enough time to explore the monastery and stupa, but most likely you won’t be able to join any prayers held by the monks.
If you want to stay at the monastery, see the life of monks and join prayers, then it’s best to stay for around three days. It’s possible to stay at a guesthouse at the monastery, in which case, you can join prayers, and also have breakfast and dinner with the monks. This is great if you want to learn more about Buddhism and see how the monks live at the monastery. It is best to pre-book the accommodation at the monastery’s guesthouse in advance.
Also, if you take public transport to visit Namo Buddha, I recommend staying for at least one night (preferably two nights). It takes a long time to reach Namo Buddha from Kathmandu by public bus, and it would be very hectic if you tried to visit the monastery in a day.
How to Get to Namo Buddha
Namo Buddha is located 40 km southeast of Kathmandu, and it takes around 2 hours to get there by car, and around 3-4 hours by public bus.
We went by car, and the road was in better condition than I expected. I first visited Namo Buddha eight years ago, and at that time the road was mostly off-road. Recently, when I visited in 2026, most of the road was concrete. Some sections of the road are under construction between Bhaktapur and Banepa (it’s very dusty), but the road is supposed to get better as the construction progresses.
If you plan to take the public bus, then first you have to take a bus from Ratna Park (Kathmandu) to Banepa, and then change to another bus from Banepa to Namo Buddha. It takes long by public bus, so I recommend leaving as early as possible, around 7 am.
In my opinion, the easiest to get to Namo Buddha is by private vehicle, but if you don’t mind roughing it and taking the public bus, then it is much cheaper and you get to experience taking a local bus in Nepal.
Brief History of Namo Buddha
The three most sacred Buddhist Pilgrimage sites in Kathmandu Valley are the Boudha Stupa, Swoyambhu Stupa and Namo Buddha.
According to a legend, there was a prince, Prince Mahasattva, who was hunting in the forest where Namo Buddha is located in present day. During his hunt, he came across a weak tigress with her cubs. The tigress was so weak that she was unable to go hunting for food to feed her cubs. Prince Mahasattva decided to sacrifice himself, letting the tigress eat him, so that the tigress and her cubs could stay alive.
The tigress ate Prince Mahasattva, leaving only his bones behind. Prince Mahasattva’s family buried his bones where the Namo Buddha Stupa is located today. The stupa was built over the remains of the prince.
The legend is that thousands of years after Prince Mahasattva sacrificed himself, Gautam Buddha visited the site. He walked around the site three times and declared Prince Mahasattva as a previous incarnation of himself. He named the village “Namo Buddha” which means “Homage to the Buddha”.
Is Namo Buddha Worth Visiting?
Yes, Namo Buddha is definitely worth visiting, especially if you are interested to learn more about Buddhism and see the daily life of monks.
Namo Buddha is located at the altitude of 1,750 m (5,741 ft), and it has nice views of the surrounding hills. If the weather is clear, you can even see the mountains.
I found Namo Buddha such a peaceful place, you can walk around the monastery, visit the main shrine, and if you book a stay at the monastery, you can even join the prayers, and have breakfast and dinner with the monks.
We spent around 2 hours at the monastery and took a short break overlooking the hills before we left. We didn’t get views of the mountains, but still looking over the hills and the valley was pretty nice.
Things to Do in Namo Buddha
Explore the Namo Buddha Monastery
The Namo Buddha Monastery is the main attraction in Namo Buddha. The monastery grounds include the main temple, smaller shrines, prayer wheels, a meditation center, and the accommodation of the monks.
The monastery was founded by Thrangu Rinpoche in 1978, and later within the monastery grounds, the Thrangu Tashi Yangtse Temple was opened in 2008. You can visit inside the temple, it’s beautiful, and it was my favourite place in Namo Buddha. Today the monastery houses over 250 monks.
Hike to the Namo Buddha Stupa
There is a small stupa around 15 minutes’ hike from the monastery. This is the stupa where according to the legend, the bones of Prince Mahasattva were buried after he sacrificed himself to save the tigress and her cubs.
The monastery is on a hilltop, and you have to hike down to the stupa. The trail to the stupa is well-built, it’s a long staircase down the hillside, not a footpath.
When we arrived in Namo Buddha, we started from the stupa and hiked up the stairs to the monastery. The hike is not too bad, and many parts of it is in shade.
Visit the Tigress Shrine
The Tigress Shrine is built at the spot where Prince Mahasattva sacrificed himself for the tigress and her cubs. The shrine is in-between the monastery and the stupa, so if you go from the stupa to the monastery, you’ll pass by the shrine.
It’s a small shrine with an engraving of Prince Mahasattva and the tigress and her cubs. People come here to say prayers and light candles. It is small and maximum three people can fit inside comfortably.
Visit Panauti
Panauti is a small town near Namo Buddha, and if you are already in the area, it is worth visiting as well. You can either hike to Panauti or go by private vehicle.
I visited Panauti before on a day trip from Kathmandu, and this time when we visited Namo Buddha, we only passed by Panauti on the way back to Kathmandu. The road from Namo Buddha to Panauti is in good condition (concrete road) and is also good for cars.
Panauti is originally a Newari settlement, and you can find many houses built in Newari architecture and restaurants serving Newari food. It’s like a smaller, less-touristy version of Bhaktapur. My favourite places in Panauti are the Indreshwor Temple, and the temples around Tribeni Ghat.
Visit Dhulikhel
Dhulikhel is famous for its sunrise views of the Himalayas (less touristy version of Nagarkot), and you pass by Dhulikhel on the way from Kathmandu to Namo Buddha.
You can hike from Namo Buddha to Dhulikhel (or vice versa) or go by private car. I like hiking, but this time, we were exploring the area by car, so we just drove from Dhulikhel to Namo Buddha (the road was in good condition for cars to drive on).
The best time to visit Dhulikhel is in late autumn (October to early December), during which time you have the best chance to see the Himalayas. I have visited Dhulikhel a few times, but never really got to see a clear view of the Himalayas, not even in autumn, so the views are never guaranteed.
Apart from the views of the Himalayas, there are a couple of temples in Dhulikhel worth exploring, the most famous being the Kalika Temple. From Dhulikhel, you can take a short hike up to the temple on the 1,000 Steps. Near the temple, there is a popular spot for taking photos, the Selfie Stone.
If I had three days for this trip, one option is to hire a car with a driver and spend one day in Dhulikhel, one in Namo Buddha, and one in Panauti. These three places are located close to each other, and if you have your own vehicle, it’s pretty easy to explore all three places. It’s also possible to hike between the places, in this case, you may need a few extra days, so that you have time both to hike and to explore what each place offers.
Where to Stay in Namo Buddha
Guesthouse at the Namo Buddha Monastery
You can actually stay at the Namo Buddha Monastery, which is the best option if you plan to spend a few days at the monastery, learn about Buddhism and get to see how monks live their life at the monastery.
There are two guesthouses at the monastery, the Old Guesthouse and New Guesthouse. The rooms at the Old Guesthouse have shared bathrooms, while in the New Guesthouse, the rooms have private bathrooms.
The price is almost the same, so it is worth upgrading to the rooms at the New Guesthouse to have a private bathroom. The rooms cost Rs. 3,500 (USD 23) per day at the New Guesthouse, and Rs. 3,000 (USD 20) per day at the Old Guesthouse.
We only visited Namo Buddha for a day trip, but if I came back again, I would spend at least one night at one of the guesthouses. When you book a place at the monastery, you get to have breakfast and dinner with the monks, and it is also possible to join a prayer with the monks in the mornings. I recommend booking the stay in advance to make sure you get to stay there in case you visit at a time when it’s busy.
Namo Buddha Resort
The Namo Buddha Resort is a peaceful getaway near the Namo Buddha Monastery. On my first visit to Namo Buddha, my friend won a raffle for us to stay at the resort, and I was really blown away when we got there.
The resort has separate cottages across a large area in nature, and the cottages are built in traditional Nepali style architecture. The interior of the cottages is also nicely designed.
It is an organic resort, and the food they prepare at the resort is grown organically in their garden. They serve vegetarian dishes, so if you prefer to have dishes with meat, then you won’t enjoy the food that much. I loved the dishes and was fine having vegetarian food for a day, but my friend who prefers non-vegetarian dishes, felt a bit let-down by not being able to have chicken or buff.
The resort is a bit far from the monastery, and you can either hike or go by vehicle to reach there.
Restaurants in Namo Buddha
There aren’t many restaurants in Namo Buddha. It is small place and you can find some small cafes and restaurants near the monastery and the stupa. If you stay at one of the guesthouses, then you can also get your meals there.
We ate lunch at a small restaurant near the Namo Buddha Stupa, the Lakpa Khana Ghar. We checked out some of the restaurants in the area and decided it looked the best out of all the options. It serves simple, local dishes, like dal bhat, fried rice, momo and chowmein. I had a veg dal bhat and it was pretty good.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Namo Buddha famous for?
Namo Buddha is famous for being one of the most sacred Buddhist pilgrimage sites in Nepal. According to a legend, Prince Mahasattva (a previous incarnation of Buddha) sacrificed himself and let a tigress eat him, so that the tigress and her cubs could live.
How far is Namo Buddha from Kathmandu?
Namo Buddha is 40 km Southeast from Kathmandu, and it takes around 2 hours to get there by car, and 3-4 hours by public bus. If you want to have some comfort, it is better to hire a private car with a driver (especially, if you want to visit it in a day). If you don’t mind traveling by the local bus, then it’s better to spend at least two days in Namo Buddha, as it would take too much time to go there and back within a day.
Is there an entry fee to Namo Buddha Monastery?
There is no entry fee to the Namo Buddha Monastery. Both Nepali and foreigners visiting the monastery can enter for free.
Which mountain is seen from Namo Buddha, Nepal?
If the weather is clear, you can see Ganesh Himal, Langtang and Gaurishankar range from Namo Buddha. They say that you can also see Everest from Namo Buddha, but in reality, it is very unlikely. You would need clear weather, binoculars, and a guide to pinpoint the exact location. You’d most likely just see the general location of Everest, but not in a clear, close-up view.
My Final Tips for Visiting Namo Buddha
Overall, visiting Namo Buddha is great if you want to learn more about Buddhism. You can visit Namo Buddha as a day trip from Kathmandu, but if you want to see the daily life of the monks, then it’s better to plan for a 3-day trip.
For a one day trip, I recommend booking a private car that can take you to Namo Buddha and back to Kathmandu comfortably. This gives you enough time to explore the monastery and the surrounding area. I only recommend taking the local bus if you don’t mind the adventure and have more time (approximately 3 days) to spend in Namo Buddha.
The best way to experience Buddhism and see the life of monks, is by booking a place for a few nights at the guesthouse of the monastery. I recommend at least two nights. You should book the place in advance to make sure you have a place. The booking includes breakfast and dinner with the monks, as well as the option to join their morning prayers.
Make it easy and book a tour to Namo Buddha, including a tour guide and transport from Kathmandu. Perfect if you want a comfortable trip visiting the monastery!
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