Pharping

Pharping is a small town about an hour from Kathmandu. It is the place where Guru Rinpoche is said to have attained enlightenment, and so is one of the most sacred sites associated with the great yogi. Within the area, there are two sacred caves on the mountain side, and a number of Tibetan Buddhist monasteries and retreat centers (mostly Nyingma) in and around the town.

It is recorded that when Guru Rinpoche began the practice of Yangdak Heruka with the consort Shakyadevi, daughter of a king of Nepal, at Pharping, powerful spirits caused a three-year drought, with famine and disease throughout the land. To counter these forces, Guru Rinpoche requested his teachers in India to send teachings, and it is said that the very moment the messengers reached Phaping with various tantric texts, the obstacles were immediately pacified and the famine and disease subsided.

Recommended reading: A Buddhist Guide to the Power Places of the Kathmandu Valley – Keith Dowman (http://keithdowman.net/essays/guide-to-kathmandu-valley.html).

The town is very small and the bazaar can be covered on foot, though it may require a vehicle to reach some of the outlying monasteries, such as Neydo Tashi Choeling. Taxis are available in the town.

• 🌍 Asura Cave (From the bus stand, walk back to the main road, turn left, and take first right. After a few minutes walk, you will see a sign on the wall (outside a cafe) directing visitors to the cave to take a right (the sign is small, so be aware). At the top of the short incline, there is a temple, turn left and at the end of the retaining wall enter the temple court yard and immediately take a right up steps. From there, follow the path to the cave.). Guru Rinpoche, the founder of Tibetan Buddhism, meditated in this cave in the 8th century. The three main images enshrined inside the cave are those of Guru Rinpoche in the middle, Yangdak Heruka to his right and Vajrakilaya to his left. There is a self-­‐arisen ཨ་ “A” syllable on the left side of the cave just below an electric bulb, and there is a hand print embedded into the stone above and to the left of the cave entrance. (updated Jul 2018)
• Neydo Tashi Choeling Monastery A monastery in the Nyedo Kagyu tradition, and under the directorship of the late Karma Chagme Rinpoche, on the left side of the road (when coming from Kathmandu) some distance before entering the village. The main statue is magnificent and definitely worth visiting.
• Rigdzin Drubpe Gatsal Ling Monastery (Chatral Rinpoche's Monastery) (next to Yanglesho Cave). One of two monasteries built by the late yogi Chatral Rinpoche; the other is in Siliguri. (updated Aug 2018)
• Self arisen Tara images. On the right side when passing Ralo Rinpoche's monastery (just below the Asura Cave) there is a small shrine that contains an image of Ganesh. To the right of the shrine are two small self-­arisen Tara images.
• Vajrayogini Temple. Within the same cave-temple complex, there is a small temple dedicated to Vajrayogini. It is said that Marpa the Translator visited this temple three times when travelling between Tibet to India.
• Yanglesho Cave (a five minute walk from the village in the direction of Kathmandu, above the pond and next to Chatral Rinpoche's monastery). The cave is where Guru Rinpoche practiced meditation and attained the level of mahamudra vidyadhara. It's connected to Asura Cave by a narrow channel. (updated Aug 2018)

Visit the sacred caves and monasteries.

A number of shops specialize in religious items.

The main bazaar area has a number of local restaurants serving Nepali, Tibetan, and Indian food.

There are a number of cafes serving instant coffee and tea in the main bazaar.

• Kathmandu - a one-hour journey by bus.
• Patan - an historical city 45 minutes from Pharping