Ananda Kuti Vihar, Buddhist temple on northern Swayambhu hill, Kathmandu, Nepal.
Ananda Kuti Vihar is a Buddhist temple located at the base of Swayambhu hill, built in traditional Nepalese architectural style with meditation spaces, prayer halls, and residential quarters for monks. The complex integrates functional areas for spiritual practice with living spaces that support the daily activities of the monastic community.
The temple was founded in 1943 by Dhammalok Mahasthavir during the rule of the Rana dynasty, making it the first Theravada Buddhist institution in modern Nepal. This establishment marked the beginning of a period when this form of Buddhism became institutionalized and spread throughout the country.
The temple serves as a gathering place for Theravada Buddhist practitioners in Kathmandu, where daily rituals and community events unfold regularly. You can observe the living practices of Buddhist monks and the ways the space is used for prayer and learning throughout the day.
You can visit the temple from sunrise to sunset and participate in meditation sessions that occur regularly throughout the day. The location at the base of Swayambhu hill makes it accessible from central Kathmandu using local transportation options.
This monastery pioneered the establishment of Theravada Buddhism as an organized institution in Nepal, being the first of its kind when founded. Its creation during a period when the Rana regime restricted religious freedom demonstrates a remarkable achievement in religious persistence and growth.
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