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Shesh Narayan Temple
About 600m downhill from the main junction at Pharping, in the direction of Kathmandu, the Shesh (or Sekh) Narayan Temple is a highly revered Vishnu…
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Pharping
About 19km south of Kathmandu, Pharping is a thriving Newari town whose ancient Buddhist pilgrimage sites have been taken over by large numbers of Tibetans. A circuit of its religious sites makes for a compelling day out from Kathmandu. Pharping lies on the road to Dakshinkali and it’s easy to visit both villages in a day by taxi, bus or motorbike (and maybe even bicycle if you don't mind the traffic and dust). En route you’ll pass the pond at Taudaha, allegedly home to the nagas released from the Kathmandu lake. More Buddhist monasteries are opening up around here every year, some of which accept foreign dharma students.
Explore Pharping
- SShesh Narayan Temple
About 600m downhill from the main junction at Pharping, in the direction of Kathmandu, the Shesh (or Sekh) Narayan Temple is a highly revered Vishnu…
- VVajra Yogini Temple
This sacred 17th-century Newari-style temple is devoted to the Tantric goddess Vajrayogini. One of the few female deities in Buddhist mythology,…
- GGuru Rinpoche Cave
Climb the steps behind the Drölma Lhakhang, passing a rocky fissure jammed full of tsha tsha (stupa-shaped clay offerings) and cracks stuffed with little…
- RRigzu Phodrang Gompa
Adjacent to the Drölma Lhakhang is the Rigzu Phodrang Gompa, worth visiting for its impressive frieze of statues, with Guru Rinpoche surrounded by his…
- SSakya Tharig Gompa
This monastery features an enormous and brightly painted chörten – step inside to see hundreds of miniature chörten and statues of Guru Rinpoche set into…
- AAuspicious Pinnacle Dharma Centre of Dzongsar
As you enter the town from the main road, take the first right and head uphill, passing a Guru Rinpoche statue in a glass case. Next to the statue is this…
- RRalo Gompa
The large white Ralo Gompa has a brightly painted chörten. It’s located up the hill, past the line of Tibetan restaurants, towards the Drölma Lhakhang.
- DDrölma Lhakhang
This shrine is sacred to both Hindus and Buddhists, who identify Saraswati as Tara. It’s accessed via a set of steps to the west of Sakya Tharig Gompa.
Top attractions
These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Pharping.
See
Shesh Narayan Temple
About 600m downhill from the main junction at Pharping, in the direction of Kathmandu, the Shesh (or Sekh) Narayan Temple is a highly revered Vishnu…
See
Vajra Yogini Temple
This sacred 17th-century Newari-style temple is devoted to the Tantric goddess Vajrayogini. One of the few female deities in Buddhist mythology,…
See
Guru Rinpoche Cave
Climb the steps behind the Drölma Lhakhang, passing a rocky fissure jammed full of tsha tsha (stupa-shaped clay offerings) and cracks stuffed with little…
See
Rigzu Phodrang Gompa
Adjacent to the Drölma Lhakhang is the Rigzu Phodrang Gompa, worth visiting for its impressive frieze of statues, with Guru Rinpoche surrounded by his…
See
Sakya Tharig Gompa
This monastery features an enormous and brightly painted chörten – step inside to see hundreds of miniature chörten and statues of Guru Rinpoche set into…
See
Auspicious Pinnacle Dharma Centre of Dzongsar
As you enter the town from the main road, take the first right and head uphill, passing a Guru Rinpoche statue in a glass case. Next to the statue is this…
See
Ralo Gompa
The large white Ralo Gompa has a brightly painted chörten. It’s located up the hill, past the line of Tibetan restaurants, towards the Drölma Lhakhang.
See
Drölma Lhakhang
This shrine is sacred to both Hindus and Buddhists, who identify Saraswati as Tara. It’s accessed via a set of steps to the west of Sakya Tharig Gompa.
Guidebooks
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