Wellness · Nepal
Namo Buddha Meditation Retreats
Retreats at Namo Buddha's Thrangu monastery — prayers, teachings and stays on a sacred Buddhist hill.
Namo Buddha is one of the holiest Buddhist hills in Nepal — the place where, in legend, a prince gave his body to a starving tigress — and today a living centre of practice crowned by the great Thrangu Tashi Yangtse Monastery. For meditation, it offers a rare combination of deep spiritual significance and a settled, supportive environment, south-east of the Kathmandu Valley beyond Dhulikhel and Panauti.
The short answer
Stay at the Thrangu monastery guesthouse, join the early morning and evening prayers, walk the kora around the sacred sites, and ask the monastery about teachings and retreats. You do not need to be Buddhist — only respectful — and you should plan ahead, as courses follow the Buddhist calendar.
Joining daily practice
The simplest way to experience Namo Buddha is to stay overnight and fall into the monastery's rhythm. Sit quietly at the back of the main hall during puja, listen to the chant and horns, and let the day turn on prayer and meals. Between sessions, the kora and the open ridge give natural space to meditate and reflect.
The retreat centre
Thrangu Tashi Yangtse Monastery houses a dedicated retreat centre and runs teachings, courses and longer retreats through the year, often led by senior lamas or visiting teachers. Programmes and openness to newcomers vary, so contact the monastery directly to ask what is available during your visit and whether any require prior experience. We do not list fees here.
Why Namo Buddha for retreat
Few places near Kathmandu pair genuine sanctity with such calm, supportive conditions for practice. The hill is among Nepal's most sacred Buddhist sites, the monastery is a serious centre of learning rather than a tourist stop, and the isolation of the ridge keeps distractions to a minimum. For deeper background, see our guide to Buddhism in Nepal.
Getting there and pairing it
Namo Buddha is around two to three hours from Kathmandu by road, and combines naturally with Dhulikhel and Panauti. For a fuller, destination-level account, see the dedicated meditation and retreats at Namo Buddha guide. To compare it with valley options, look at the monastery stay at Neydo near Pharping or the cave hermitages of Pharping's meditation caves, and browse the full collection of yoga and meditation retreats in Nepal.
Frequently asked questions
Can you do a meditation retreat at Namo Buddha?+
Yes. Thrangu Tashi Yangtse Monastery at Namo Buddha is a major centre of Tibetan Buddhist practice with a dedicated retreat centre. It hosts teachings, courses and longer retreats through the year, and even a short overnight stay lets you join daily prayers in one of Nepal's most sacred settings.
Do you need to be Buddhist to stay at Namo Buddha?+
No. The monastery welcomes respectful visitors of all backgrounds to observe prayers, walk the kora and stay at the guesthouse. Formal retreats and teachings may have their own requirements, so ask the monastery in advance what is open to newcomers.
How do you get to Namo Buddha?+
Namo Buddha lies south-east of the Kathmandu Valley, beyond Dhulikhel and Panauti, around a two to three hour drive from Kathmandu depending on traffic and route. Many visitors combine it with Dhulikhel and Panauti as a loop.
What is daily life like during a stay?+
Days are simple and quiet: early morning and evening prayers in the main hall, vegetarian meals, time to meditate or walk the kora, and the steady rhythm of monastic life. The hilltop setting and lack of distractions make it deeply restful.
