Sightseeing · Namobuddha
Thrangu Tashi Yangtse Monastery
A grand Kagyu monastery crowning Namobuddha, with a golden shrine hall and monks' college.
Thrangu Tashi Yangtse Monastery crowns the sacred hill of Namobuddha, its golden roofs and red-and-white walls visible from far across the Kavre ridges. Founded by the renowned teacher Thrangu Rinpoche of the Karma Kagyu tradition, it is one of the most important Tibetan Buddhist monasteries in Nepal and the living spiritual centre of the Namobuddha hilltop.
The short answer
Visit Thrangu monastery to step inside a vast, richly painted shrine hall, watch maroon-robed monks at prayer, and feel the hush of a working monastic community. It sits at the top of the hill above the Namobuddha Stupa, reached by a short, stepped climb. Come in the early morning to catch the resident monks chanting puja.
What you'll find
Beyond the great temple, the monastery is a small world of its own. It runs a shedra (monastic college) where young monks study Buddhist philosophy, a retreat centre for longer practice, a clinic, and a guesthouse open to visitors. The main hall is lined with murals, butter lamps and a towering gilded statue of the Buddha; the courtyards fill with the sound of horns and chanting during festivals and ritual days.
Watching prayers respectfully
If you time your visit for a puja, you can sit quietly at the back of the hall and listen to the deep chant, drums and long horns. Keep your phone silent, do not walk in front of the monks, and follow your host's cues on photography. Walking the grounds clockwise and offering a quiet bow at the shrine are simple ways to show respect.
Good to know
- Remove shoes and hats before entering the shrine hall.
- Photography is often allowed in the courtyards but restricted inside — always ask first.
- The monastery guesthouse lets you stay overnight; see our guide to where to stay in Namobuddha.
- Longer visitors can enquire about the monastery's meditation and retreat programmes.
Thrangu monastery is the highlight of any Namobuddha visit. Combine it with the Namobuddha Stupa and the hilltop viewpoint, and read more in our national guides to the monasteries and gompas of Nepal and Buddhism in Nepal. For the wider area, see the Namobuddha travel guide.
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Frequently asked questions
What is Thrangu Tashi Yangtse Monastery?+
It is a large Tibetan Buddhist monastery of the Karma Kagyu tradition, founded by Thrangu Rinpoche on the sacred hill of Namobuddha. As well as a magnificent main shrine hall, it houses a monks' college (shedra), a retreat centre, a clinic and a guesthouse, making it a living centre of study and practice.
Can visitors enter the monastery?+
Yes. The grounds and main temple are open to respectful visitors of all faiths. Remove your shoes before entering the shrine hall, keep quiet during prayers, photograph only where permitted, and walk clockwise around sacred objects.
When can I watch the monks pray?+
Prayer sessions (puja) are usually held in the early morning and again later in the day, with the resident monks chanting in the main hall. Times shift with the ritual calendar, so ask at the monastery office or your guesthouse on arrival.
Is there a dress code for the monastery?+
Dress modestly with shoulders and knees covered. Remove hats and shoes inside shrine rooms, do not point your feet at images of the Buddha, and never touch sacred texts, statues or ritual objects.
