Description
Monasteries Visit Tour
Pokhara monastery sightseeing tour is one of the amazing tour packages to witness the most popular Buddhist sites inside Pokhara valley. In this tour, we will visit Pema Ts’al Monastic Institute, Jangchub Choeling Monastery and the Tashi Palkhel Refugee Camp. This tour helps us to understand the medieval history, cultural, religious and recreational attributes. Explore these wonderful monasteries with full of joy and learn about the cultural and religious values of these monasteries.
The trip starts after breakfast and ends in the late afternoon so as to participate in the prayer activities in the monastery. Being a private tour, we can also choose to add or remove the places that we are willing to visit during the day.
Trip Itinerary
- Pick up at your hotel in late morning and drive more than half an hour to Pema Ts’al Monastic Institute, Hemja. Explore inside and enjoy the surrounding of the institute.
- Visit Jangchub Choeling Monastery – the oldest monastery in Pokhara, just close from the institute.
- Enjoy and witness the Buddhist culture and life style including the Tashikhel Refugee Camp.
- Drive back to the hotel in Pokhara in the late afternoon after having the prayer ceremony in the monastery.
Pema Ts’al Monastic Institute
In the outskirts of Pokhara, in a small suburb known as Hemja, we will find the largest Buddhist monastery in all of Pokhara, The Pema T’sal Sakya Monastic Institute. Although the name sounds a bit formal, you will find far more eggshell-colored stupas, golden statues, and massive murals than any other Gumba in all of Pokhara. This institute was established on March 13, 1999, in Kathmandu, Nepal and in February 2002, the monastery relocated to Pokhara, Nepal.
Pema T’sal Sakya Monastic Institute is a unique and beautiful place, situated on a quiet hilltop. It offers a panoramic view of the Fishtail and the Annapurna Himalayan Mountain range. It is about 20 minutes north of Lakeside beside Fewa Lake, a popular tourist destination, in Pokhara, Nepal’s second largest city.
Pema Ts’al Monastery is a thriving modern monastic community dedicated to educating Buddhist monks and preserving the ancient Sakya Buddhist traditions. It is home to many young students from the inaccessible and impoverished Himalayan Region, Tibetan Refugee and Nepali Buddhist communities. Presently, it has 120 students studying a comprehensive educational program sanctioned by the Nepali Government.
Jangchub Choeling Monastery
Located in the Tibetan Refugee Camp (Tashi palkhel) right next to the Pema Ts’al Sakya Monastic Institute in Hemja , Jangchub Choeling Monastery is one of the most prominent and old monasteries in Pokhara and officially established In 1967,under the guidance of Lama Dupsing Rinpoche by HH the 14th Dalai Lama.
At first, there were only 35 monks who reside in the Jangchub Choeling Monastery, but this monastery has become home to hundreds of monks. Over the past several years, the JangchubChoeling Monastery has become able to collect and store many volumes of Kagyu texts and Tengyur(commentary by the Indian Buddhist Masters). Besides this the monastery monastery was continuously expanded with increasing the facilities.
While the Grand Hall and temple grounds are quite simple, it is the Tibetan influence from the surrounding community that truly makes this Buddhist monastery special. Not to mention, we will also be blessed with a stunning view of the Annapurna Mountains on a clear day.
Tashi Palkhel Tibetan Refugee Camp
Although you are only roughly 5km outside of Pokhara, you will feel as if you are stepping into a whole new world when visiting the Tashi Palkhel Tibetan Refugee Camp. Ever since the Tibetans first settled this refugee camp in Pokhara in 1962, the residents of Tashi Palkhel have been dependent on foreign aid to survive. The only way for many of the people to earn a little extra money is through their carpet weaving and selling of small trinkets. While supporting the people of Tashi Palkhel is important, a lot has changed since 1962. Many of the elderly folks who inhabit this village know nothing other than selling their wares to tourists. The younger generation, however, has things much better off. Many have stable jobs that they are able to support their families.
Cost includes
01. Professional tour guide
02. Private transportation by car/ coach
03. All entry fees
Travel Tips
There are certain dos and don’ts while exploring these beautiful historically and culturally rich cities of Nepal. If you are planning to explore the Pokhara city of Nepal then here are the few travel tips that might help you.
01. Always carry plenty of water with you.
02. Always wear a mask
03. Open your shoes or slippers before entering religious places like monasteries, temples etc.
04. Don’t wear too short an outfit.
05. Public affection is not accepted in Nepal.
We can customize this trip as per your schedule, budget and preferences. If you wish to discuss any aspect of this trip or your suitability for it please contact us.
