Boudhanath, Kopan and Budhanilkantha
About
The north of Kathmandu is where the valley meets the hills. This quiet day starts at Budhanilkantha, where a great stone Vishnu has lain on a bed of serpents in a pool for over a thousand years, goes up to Kopan, a Tibetan Buddhist monastery on a hill above the city, and ends at Boudhanath, the great white stupa, in the evening, when families and monks walk around it with prayer wheels and the butter lamps are lit. A day of stone, prayer and evening light.
A private tour
Your own day, at your own pace
Namaste, and welcome. This is not a group tour; it is your day. Just you and the people you came with, and me as your guide. We start when you are ready, stop wherever something catches your eye, and sit in a courtyard for as long as you like. No one is waiting at a bus, and there is no list we have to finish. I would like you to leave feeling you met the city, not that you rushed through it.
- Your own start
- I meet you at your hotel at the time you choose.
- The plan can change
- If you want longer somewhere, we stay.
- No shopping stops
- We go to shops only when you ask.
- We start when you like
- Early for the quiet squares and the morning prayers, or after a slow breakfast. I pick you up at your hotel.
- Time for every question
- The gods on the temple struts, the festival in the street, the food on the corner. There is time for every answer.
- Space to just be there
- A cup of tea while the square wakes up. Often the best moments of a day are the ones nobody planned.
- The plan bends to you
- Tired, or curious about something else? We leave a place out, or stay longer.
- Only the shops you ask for
- We stop at a shop only if you want to.
With warmth, Rujan Neupane
Along the way
What this day is known for.
- Budhanilkantha, the sleeping Vishnu in his pool
- Kopan Monastery on its hill
- Boudhanath, the great stupa, at dusk
- Butter lamps and the evening kora
- Hindu and Buddhist north Kathmandu
- The valley from Kopan's hill
The day, stop by stop
Times move with traffic and with you.-
8:30
Budhanilkantha
The great stone Vishnu lying in his pool at the foot of Shivapuri, while the morning worship goes on.
- Budhanilkantha
-
10:30
Kopan Monastery
Up to the monastery on its hill: the prayer hall, the gardens and the view over the valley, in the hours it opens to visitors.
- Kopan Monastery
-
12:30
Lunch near Boudha
A slow lunch, Tibetan or Nepali.
- Boudha
-
14:00
Around Boudha
Small monasteries and lanes around the stupa, a thangka painters' workshop if you like.
- Boudha
-
16:00
Boudhanath at dusk
The kora around the stupa with everyone else, as the lamps are lit; then back to your hotel.
- Boudhanath Stupa
Is this tour for you?
Walking, steps, heat and access, honestly.Not sure? Tell me who is coming, and I'll tell you honestly. Write to me
The honest downsides
What I'd want to know before booking.- Kopan opens to visitors only at certain hours, and may close for retreats.
- Non-Hindus may look at Budhanilkantha only from the edge of the pool.
- Boudha is busy in the evening.
- Thangka shops sell; we visit only if you want.
More about this tour
Best time to go
Pleasant from October to April.- BestJAN
- BestFEB
- GoodMAR
- HazyAPR
- HazyMAY
- RainJUN
- RainJUL
- RainAUG
- GoodSEP
- BestOCT
- BestNOV
- BestDEC
From late March to May, and on some winter days, the valley is hazy and the mountains are hidden. In the monsoon (June to September) mornings are often clear and afternoons wet.
Time of day
Festivals worth planning for
Festival dates follow the lunar calendar and change every year; I confirm the date when you ask.
Before you go
The small practical things.Visiting with respect
These are living places of worship, not museums.- Walk around stupas, monasteries and temples clockwise.
- Ask before photographing people at prayer, or inside temples; some do not allow it.
- Take off your shoes where others do, and dress with shoulders and knees covered at holy places.
- In the parks, keep quiet and keep your distance from animals; follow the nature guide.
Where your money goes
Every amount, and who receives it. I charge only my guide fee; the rest is paid at cost.| What | Who receives it | Amount | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guide fee | Rujan Neupane | My day rate × 1 day | For your whole private group |
| Entry tickets | Paid at the gate | Official price | See Entrance fees |
| Car and driver | The driver | Agreed before the day | Paid at cost |
| Lunch and tea | The restaurants and tea shops | What they charge | You pay directly |
I don't sell packages. I guide, and I help you arrange the rest (rooms, transport, permits) at what it actually costs. If you would like it all put together as one package, ask me: I make one only on your request, and we confirm it by email.
Photo notes
From a guide who is also a photographer.The places in detail
The history and stories behind what you will see.Budhanilkantha
At the foot of Shivapuri, north of Kathmandu, a great stone image of Vishnu lies on a bed of coiled serpents in a pool. It is among the largest stone carvings in the valley and is still worshipped every day.
Kopan and Boudhanath
Kopan Monastery stands on a hill north of Boudha, a Tibetan Buddhist monastery known for its courses for visitors. Boudhanath is one of the largest stupas in the world and part of the Kathmandu Valley World Heritage Site; around it live many Tibetan families, with dozens of monasteries.
Entry tickets and park fees are at the official price: see entrance fees in Nepal.
My promises
Written down, so you can hold me to them.- No pressureAsk me anything. Asking costs nothing and commits you to nothing, and I will never rush your decision.
- Nothing hiddenEvery cost is written down before you pay anything, and nothing is added later without your agreement.
- Your day, your paceWe stay longer where you want to, and skip what doesn't interest you.
- Reviews as writtenEvery review here is published as the guest wrote it. I don't edit reviews or remove critical ones.
Before you go
What I would read first, from my own guides and tours.Guides to read first
Frequently asked questions
Can we go inside Kopan?
Yes, during its visiting hours; it may close for retreats.
Can I enter Budhanilkantha?
Non-Hindus see it from the edge of the pool.
Is there a fee?
At Boudhanath; donations elsewhere.
Is the guide fee for each person?
No. One rate for your whole private group of 1 to 5 people.
Can we stay for the evening?
Yes, the tour ends after dusk at Boudha.
When is best?
October to April.
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- +977 984-3808583
- Phone
- +977 984-3808583
Know your date already? Book me as your guide for this tour
More than 5 of you? Write to me. I guide up to 5 people at one rate. For a bigger group we can talk it through by email. I reply myself, usually within a day. On the trail there is often no network, so it can take a few days.
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