INFORMATION ON KATHMANDU, NEPAL
AND NAMO BUDDHA SEMINAR 2008

ABOUT THE KATHMANDU VALLEY
The Kathmandu Valley is a major place of pilgrimage for Buddhists. Around the city of Kathmandu are ancient Buddhist stupas such as the Great Boudhanath Stupa. The area surrounding the stupa which is known as “Boudha” has over sixty Tibetan Buddhist monasteries. There are many teachers and high lamas, either living in Boudha or visiting.
Due to this, many students of Buddhism from all over the world come to stay in here to receive teachings. Some monasteries provide situations for study in Higher Buddhist Philosophy. Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche’s main monastery known as Thrangu Tashi Choling is located in Boudha close to the Boudha Stupa.
In the hills nearby Boudha, Phullahari Monastery, the seat of HE Jamgon Kongrul Rinpoche is located.
In the area of Swayambunath, is the Swayambunath Stupa also known as “The Monkey Temple”. Located on top of a hill, the whole hill itself is considered to be a self arisen stupa. According to legend, Lord Manjushri cut into the lake that was once the Kathmandu Valley and as the water was set free the hill rose up simultaneously. Thrangu Tara Abbey, Thrangu Rinpoche’s nunnery for Buddhist nuns is in Swayambu. There are many monasteries in the Swayambu area including Benchen Monastery, the home of Tenga Rinpoche and Sangye Nyenpa Rinpoche.
Among the many places of pilgrimage is Namo Buddha, one of the most important, where, in a previous life as a prince, the Buddha gave his body to a starving tigress and her cubs. At Namo Buddha, Thrangu Rinpoche has a temple, school for young monks and other projects.
Other places include Pharping, a Guru Rinpoche place, many places where Milarepa and other yogis stayed and many Vajra Yogini and Chakrasamvara places.

CURRENT CONDITIONS
The ongoing war with the Maoists was mainly in the outlying areas of Nepal. It has been always been quite safe in the Kathmandu Valley and many other places. Many people have gone trekking with no problems. Since the restoration of democracy, there has been a ceasefire as the political parties work on forming a constituent assembly to include the Maoists. So far, it’s quite safe to travel here and tourists are coming again. If there are any changes in the situation that would be travel unsafe, they will be announced.

HOW TO GET THERE
Some airlines fly into Kathmandu directly from Europe such as Austrian Air and from Europe through the Middle East, such as Gulf Air and Quatar Air (then directly to Kathmandu- daily). Thai Airways flies into Kathmandu from Bangkok daily. Many airlines fly into Bangkok from Europe, North America, Australia and Asia. There’s a direct flight to Bangkok from New York and also from Los Angeles. From South America many people go through South Africa or to Delhi via London (British Airways is one airline). There are many flights daily between Kathmandu and Delhi. Many airlines fly directly to Delhi from London, New York, and many points in Europe. From Canada, Singapore Air flies from Vancouver to Singapore/Bangkok and Cathay Pacific to Hong Kong and Bangkok.
When reaching the Kathmandu airport, there’s a pre-paid taxi service outside the “Arrivals” and also many taxis. You should not pay more than 250 rupees to go anywhere in Kathmandu or Boudha from the airport.

MONEY
On arrival, there’s a bank in the airport where you can exchange money into Nepalese Rupees. The rupee is now approx. 72 rupees to the US dollar, 87 rupees to the Euro and 134 to the English pound and 65 rupees to the Canadian dollar.
There are ATM machines everywhere where you can use your bank debit card or credit card. In Boudha, there’s an ATM machine at the Gemini Supermarket on the main road. It’s advisable to bring some traveller’s cheques and also some cash to have on hand if you need money quickly. All convertible currencies can be exchanged at the bank or money exchanges.

VISA
A two month multiple entry visa can be obtained upon arrival at the airport. The cost is $30. Any additional months up to four or five months are $30 per month. A free three day transit visa is available You can also get a visa from a Nepalese Embassy or Consulate in your country. This seems like a lot of trouble considering you can get it at the airport, unless you plan to stay longer and you can get longer visa. To get the visa at the airport, you need one passport size photo. There is an instant photo place at the airport if you don’t have one. The visa regulations change from time to time but at the airport there is not much variation.

WHERE TO STAY

HOTEL NGUDRUP
Thrangu Tashi Choling Monastery’s hotel. The hotel is three years old with 25 nicely furnished rooms and one suite with attached bathrooms and phones. Seven of the rooms have attached kitchenettes. There’s a meditation room, dining room/kitchen, roof top garden and private compound with garden.
Rates (includes breakfast): Single 620 ($9) / Double 840 ($12) including tax
Phone: (00977-1-)447-6206
Email: ngudrup@yahoo.com or gene@mail.com.np
Managers: Gene Kudirka and Nyima Dorje

Cyber Guesthouse
E-mail: cyberghouse@yahoo.com

Shechen Guesthouse
E-mail: rabsel@mos.com.np

Lotus Guesthouse
Phone: 472-320, 472-432; fax 478-091

Hyatt Regency Hotel
Email: reservation.kathmanduhr@hyattintl.com

RESTAURANTS
There are restaurants of almost every type in Kathmandu. In Boudha, around the stupa, there’s the Sakura Japanese Restaurant, New Orleans Café, The Stupa View (vegetarian), My Three Sisters and The Saturday Café. Next door to Thrangu Monastery is The Garden Café (clean and good food). Attached to Sechen Guesthouse is the Sechen Restaurant which has very good vegetarian food. And of course, there’s the Hyatt which has lovely restaurants with western prices. There are others but these are the ones I can recommend.

WEATHER & CLOTHING
It depends on the season. Mid-November to end of February is the cold season where one would need warms clothing, warm jackets and long underwear (especially as many places are not heated). March to May is generally warm to hot but there can be rainy weather. End of May or mid June to end of September (generally) is rainy season but it’s mostly warm to hot. October is warm and it starts to cool down around end of October. Hiking boots and gear are unnecessary unless you plan to go trekking. There’s no snow in the Kathmandu Valley.

OTHER TRAVEL
There are many pilgrimage places and other places of interest in the Kathmandu Valley
Outside the valley, are many places in the mountains for trekking. The northern areas have many monasteries as the people are primarily Buddhist. In the south are jungles, protected wild life parks, rivers for rafting. There are many travel agents and trekking agencies in Kathmandu.
Regarding travel to India: many airlines fly to Delhi daily. Indian Airlines flies to Calcutta and Varanasi several times a week.
Bangkok, Thailand is a 3 hour flight from Kathmandu.

COMMUNICATIONS 
There are communications shops everywhere that have fast e-mail, fax and international telephone service.

MEDICAL CARE
Kathmandu has quite good medical facilities. There’s several international clinics including CWIC Clinic with western doctors and facilities for lab tests and vaccines immunization. But there’s also many good labs and cheaper places for these facilities.
What is exceptional in Kathmandu is the number of good doctors in alternative health care such as Homeopathy, Aryuveda, Tibetan Medicine, Chinese Medicine etc. In Boudha there is Sechen Medical Clinic which is run by Sechen Monastery and has many facilities including dentists, lab tests, a very good Homeopathic doctor, Tibetan Dr. and doctors of western medicine. There’s an excellent eye hospital near Boudha. Kathmandu is also a good place to buy reading glasses. Bring your prescription, in case.
Make sure that you are immunized against Hepatitus A and Tetanus shots are up to date.
Malaria prophylactic is not recommended as it has many side effects. There is no malaria in these areas.

LAUNDRY
All hotels and guesthouses have an inexpensive laundry service.

WHAT TO BRING & WHAT TO BUY HERE

  • A small flashlight for power outages and walking at night
  • medicines and vitamins that you take regularly. Nutrobiotic (grapefruit seed extract) tablets or liquid are good to prevent and cure stomach problems
  • Hand wipes or liquid hand cleaner (Purell). You can also buy these here.
  • tape recorder if you wish to tape teachings (you can buy tapes here)

One can buy almost everything in Kathmandu. There’s supermarkets, pharmacies, stationary stores, good places to buy eye glasses, watches, cameras etc. Dharma goods and handicrafts are everywhere, statues, thankas, brocade, bells & dorjes, drums and all ritual objects used in Tibetan Buddhism.

NAMO BUDDHA SEMINAR 2008 – MARCH 12 - 16

  • Teaching: "Mahamudra Upadesha"- a song of realization by the Indian Mahasiddha Saraha
  • The seminar will be held in the large shrine room of Shree Managal Dvip School, Thrangu Rinpoche’s school located near Thrangu Tashi Choling Monastery in Boudha.
  • Participants should make their own arrangements for accommodation. Above are listings of some guesthouses in the Boudha area.
  • No pre-registration is necessary for the seminar.
  • Registration and fee payment will be on Tuesday, March 20
  • Seminar Fee: $40 US or rupee equivalent

    Seminar Schedule:
    9:00 – 9:45 Silent Meditation (optional)
    10:00 – 11:30 Teachings

    There will be some events in the afternoons which will be announced.
    Seminar Coordinator: Gloria Jones: gloriaj@mail.com.np Tel: 00977-1-214-0440


Return to Main Menu