"Dhe-Tsang Gelug Monastery"
Kopan Monastery is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery situated on a picturesque hill just north of Boudhanath in Kathmandu. Founded in the late 1960s by Lama Thubten Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Kopan has earned world renown as a major international center for Buddhist meditation and philosophy.
Overlooking the vibrant Kathmandu valley, Kopan provides sanctuary for over 360 monks and nuns while welcoming thousands of international students each year for intensive meditation retreats and spiritual study.
The lineage and daily practice of Kopan Monastery, its festival calendar, and how to visit a working monastery respectfully.
Kopan was established specifically to preserve Tibetan Buddhist scholarship following the exodus from Tibet, while also opening its doors to Western seekers.
It was here that the first international Buddhist retreat courses were taught in English, building a global bridge between ancient Himalayan wisdom and modern spiritual seekers.
Kopan is famous for its daily intellectual debate sessions among monks in the courtyard, as well as grand celebrations for Losar (Tibetan New Year).
Open to day visitors on specific days; check schedule for quiet retreat periods.
Maintain quiet demeanor and dress respectfully across all garden grounds.
Kopan Monastery belongs to the Gelug Tibetan tradition, specifically the FPMT World Center lineage, and stands at 1,380 m in Kopan Hill, Kathmandu, KATHMANDU DISTRICT. The surrounding area forms part of Near Boudhanath Stupa.
The monastery follows Gelug Tradition (Yellow Hat) and traces its foundation to 1969 AD (Lama Yeshe & Zopa Rinpoche). Monks live and study on site, so the prayer hall, courtyards, and surrounding buildings are working religious spaces rather than monuments.
The best months to visit Kopan Monastery are Year-Round (All 12 Months). Mornings are usually the calmest time to sit in the prayer hall, while afternoons suit walking in the surrounding area of KATHMANDU DISTRICT.
At Kopan Monastery, dress modestly, remove shoes and hats before entering the main hall, and keep phones silent during prayers. Some monasteries in KATHMANDU DISTRICT welcome overnight guests, which supports the community and gives time to join an evening session.