Kopan Monastery, Kathmandu, Bagmati Nepal

Just north of the ancient Buddhist town of Boudhanath is the Kopan hill, rising up out of the terraced fields of the Kathmandu valley and visible for miles. Dominated by a magnificent Bodhi tree, it was once the home of the astrologer to the king of Nepal. It was to this hill that these lamas came with their first Western students in 1969.

Kopan Monastery had its beginnings in the Solu-khumbu region of the Himalayan mountains. In 1971 Lama Zopa Rinpoche, the reincarnation of the Lawudo Lama, a yogi of the tiny hamlet of Lawudo, fulfilled the promise of the previous Lawudo Lama to start a monastic school for the local children. The school was called called it Mount Everest Center. Twenty five monks moved down from the mountain to Kopan in 1971 - prompted by the harsh climate at an altitude of 4000 am, which made study barely possible in winter.

Now Kopan is a thriving monastery of 360 monks, mainly from Nepal and Tibet, and a spiritual oasis for hundreds of visitors yearly from around the world. Nearby is Khachoe Ghakyil Ling Nunnery, home to 380 nuns. Both the monastery and the nunnery are under the spiritual guidance of Lama Zopa Rinpoche, and the care of the abbot, Khen Rinpoche Geshe Lhundrup Rigsel. And it is the wellspring of the FPMT, a network of some 140 centers and activities world-wide, themselves expressions of the Buddha activity of Lama Thubten Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche.

How to Get to Kopan

Kopan is situated on the outskirts of Kathmandu, near Boudhanath (also called Boudha). It is about 15km from the city, and about 5km from the airport. The road to the monastery is accessible all year round.

From the Airport
If you are coming from the airport, take a taxi from there to Kopan, which is near Boudhanath. Ask for Kopan Gompa. The taxi from the airport is approximately 750 rupees if paid in advance at the PRE-PAID TAXI station outside the arrival hall.

From Kathmandu
You can take a taxi all the way up to Kopan. Ask for Kopan Gompa. From Boudhanath (pictured above) the taxi cost should be around 200 rupees. From Thamel, the cost is closer to 400 rupees. You can try to bargain for lower prices. Taxis are plentiful in Kathmandu.

You can also take a public bus to Boudhanath. From there you will have to walk approximately 40 minutes to Kopan.  There are no signposts, but you may be able to get directions by asking for Kopan Gompa.