Nagi Gompa (Monastery)

Nagi Gompa (Monastery) is a strange Buddhist monastery located at the hill of Shivapuri and is considered as one of the perfect destinations near Kathmandu valley for taking a small break. Nagi Gompa hike is a comfortable walk through the forest with an excellent view of the Kathmandu valley floor with its Himalayan ranges. The hiking trail offers the great views of the towering hills, fog rolling over the hilltops, the glint of the golden spires of the neighboring Gompas and the panoramic view of city downward. In addition, you can also get a great opportunity to watch the close view of different kinds of birds with their mesmerizing whistling, wild animals, rhododendron forest and many more sceneries inside Shivapuri National Park.

Nagi Gompa features the hall which is high-ceilinged and impressive from inside and every inch is covered in traditional Tibetan religious art which are painted in bright colors providing the impressive and eye-catchy look to the monastery. A small bell, a bajra, praying beads and a prayer book written in Tibetan are placed before each mat where they pray for the god. There are also big statues of Karunamaya (the Goddess of Generosity), Sakyamuni with his two incarnates, and paintings of all the avatars of the Buddha look very impressive and beautiful from the walls of the Gompa. Two huge gongs stand at the doorway, ready to be played during the chanting and singing sessions.

However, nuns at Nagi Gompa are trained within the circumstances of classical Buddhist philosophy with ritual arts and meditation practices. These nuns are worldwide famous for their performance of ‘Chod’. At present time, 10 nuns of Nagi Gompa are in their meditation retreat during which time they go to isolated rooms above the Gompa and stay there to meditate and pray in secrecy. Many nuns undertake such meditation retreats more than once.