Town or village · 1,400 m
Kirtipur
An old Newar hill town on Kathmandu's south-western edge, with temples, valley views and a dramatic history of resistance.
Kathmanduफर्पिङ
Pharping
A small Newar town on the southern rim of the Kathmandu Valley, sacred to Vajrayana Buddhists for Guru Rinpoche's meditation caves.
- Altitude
- 1,570 m*
- Best months
- Feb-Apr, Oct-Dec
- Type
- Town or village
- District
- Kathmandu, Bagmati
- Permit
- None needed
Why go
Pharping is a small town on a hillside above the Bagmati on the southern edge of the Kathmandu Valley, about 20-23 km from central Kathmandu and now part of Dakshinkali Municipality. It is one of the most important pilgrimage places in the valley for Tibetan and Newar Buddhists, who come to the caves where Padmasambhava, known as Guru Rinpoche, is said to have meditated, and it is surrounded by monasteries and retreat centres, most of them of the Nyingma school.
The main sites are close together. The Asura Cave, reached up a short steep path above the town, is a small cave shrine with images of Guru Rinpoche; pilgrims point out a handprint said to be his. Below the town, the Yanglesho cave sits above a group of ponds and shrines to Vishnu as Shesh Narayan, and between the two stands the Phamting Vajrayogini temple, a Newar shrine dating mainly from the 17th century. On the slopes around, larger monasteries such as Neydo Tashi Choling host many monks.
Pharping is usually visited together with the Hindu temple of Dakshinkali, about 1 km further south, and it makes a good half-day or full-day trip with a lunch stop in the town. Some visitors stay overnight in monastery guesthouses to attend morning prayers. The road also passes the gorge at Chobhar on the way from Kathmandu.
History and culture
According to Tibetan Buddhist tradition, Padmasambhava meditated at Yanglesho with his consort Shakyadevi, a Nepali princess, and attained the realisation of mahamudra here in the 8th century; a story told by pilgrims says his practice was obstructed by spirits who brought drought and famine until teachings arrived from India. These accounts are religious tradition. The Vajrayogini temple is said to have been founded by the Pamtingpa brothers, disciples of the Indian masters Naropa and Maitripa, and is one of the main Vajrayogini temples of the valley.
Pharping is also an old Newar town with its own temples and festivals, and it was home to Nepal's first hydroelectric power station, built in 1911 under Rana prime minister Chandra Shumsher, which is now preserved. The Buddhist community grew significantly after the 1960s, when Tibetan lamas established retreat centres here.
Things to do in Pharping
Visit the Asura Cave
Climb about 10 minutes of steep steps above the town to the cave shrine, removing shoes before entering.
See Shesh Narayan and Yanglesho
Walk below the town to the ponds and Vishnu shrines, then up the stairs to the Yanglesho cave.
Continue to Dakshinkali
Walk or drive about 1 km south to the Dakshinkali temple, ideally on a non-sacrifice day if you prefer it quieter.
Attend morning prayers
Stay overnight in a monastery guesthouse to join or listen to the dawn puja.
Weather and the best time to visit Pharping
Weather in Pharping
Forecast for 1,570 m. Conditions change fast in the mountains.
Weather data: MET Norway, licensed CC BY 4.0. A forecast, not a guarantee.
Best time to visit
Feb-Apr, Oct-Dec
- Jan
- Good month: Feb
- Good month: Mar
- Good month: Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Good month: Oct
- Good month: Nov
- Good month: Dec
- Autumn (Sep-Nov)
- October and November are clear and pleasant, with views back over the valley.
- Winter (Dec-Feb)
- December to February is dry and sunny; Losar in February or March brings special prayers to the monasteries.
- Spring (Mar-May)
- March and April are warm, with rhododendrons on the hills above the town.
- Monsoon (Jun-Aug)
- June to August is wet; the road can be slow and steps to the caves slippery.
Where to stay
Monastery guesthousesGuesthouses
Several monasteries run guesthouses, and there are simple lodges in the town.
No partner stays are listed here yet. List a property.
Getting there
Pharping is about 20-23 km south of central Kathmandu on the Dakshinkali road via Chobhar.
Nearest hub: Kathmandu
- roadTaxi from Thamel, about 45-75 minutes depending on traffic.
- roadLocal buses from Kathmandu's Ratna Park area, around 1-1.5 hours, ending in Pharping or at Dakshinkali.
Getting to Pharping, by mode
Nearest hub: Kathmandu. Times are typical ranges, not schedules, and vary with roadworks, weather and the season.
By busfrom Kathmanduabout 1-1.5 hLocal buses
Local buses from the Ratna Park area run to Pharping, some continuing to Dakshinkali.
By car or jeepfrom Kathmanduabout 0.75-1.25 h
About 20 to 23 km south of the centre on the Dakshinkali road via Chobhar.
Road: Sealed but narrow and winding beyond Chobhar, with rough patches.
By motorbikefrom Kathmanduabout 0.7-1.2 hEasy riding
An easy hill run out of the valley, slippery in the monsoon.
Road: Sealed, narrow and winding with patchy sections south of Chobhar.
On footfrom Dakshinkali Templeabout 0.25-0.4 h15-20 minutes from Dakshinkali, about 1 km, uphill
A short uphill walk north from the Dakshinkali temple gate.
Where people go next
- Dakshinkali Templeon foot, about 0.25-0.4 hThe temple just south of the village.
- Kathmanduby bus, about 1-1.5 hBack into the city.
- Markhuby car or jeep, about 1-1.8 hSouth-west over the hills to the Kulekhani lake.
- Kulekhani (Indra Sarowar)by car or jeep, about 1-1.8 hThe reservoir road beyond Pharping.
Permits and fees
None needed
No entry fee is charged for Pharping town or its main caves; donations are welcome at shrines and monasteries.
Verify before travel: permit rules and fees change. Checked 2026-10-06 against Pharping, Wikivoyage.
Risks and conditions
Seasonal risks around Pharping
What this place is typically exposed to, and when. These are seasonal patterns, not a report on conditions now.
Othermoderate in a typical yearDec-Apr
Dry-season dust and haze are a normal feature of the Kathmandu valley, where measured PM2.5 has run several times the WHO guideline level. Visitors prone to asthma usually do better on early mornings and after rain.
Landslideslow in a typical yearJun-Sep
The rim road south from Chobhar and the steep lanes up to the caves see small slips and slumped edges in the June to September rains.
Road blockageslow in a typical yearJun-Sep
Monsoon rain typically slows the Dakshinkali road and leaves the stone steps to the cave shrines slippery.
Coldlow in a typical yearDec-Feb
At about 1,570 m the village is a little cooler than the valley floor and December to February mornings are cold in unheated guesthouses and monastery rooms.
Check current conditions before you travel
Roads, trails, passes and flights change with the weather and with roadworks, and nothing on this page describes conditions today. Before you set off, check the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology for weather and flood warnings, the Nepal Disaster Risk Reduction Portal for incidents, and the local authority, police or your licensed operator for road, trail and flight status.
Practical tips
- Remove shoes and hats before entering caves and shrines, and walk clockwise around them.
- The cave paths are steep and narrow; take care in wet weather.
- Some retreat centres are closed to visitors to protect meditators; respect signs.
- Carry cash; ATMs are limited.
Questions about Pharping
How do I get to Pharping from Kathmandu?
Take a taxi, about 45-75 minutes, or a local bus from the Ratna Park area, around 1-1.5 hours.
Why is Pharping important to Buddhists?
Tibetan Buddhist tradition holds that Guru Rinpoche meditated in its caves, Asura and Yanglesho, and attained realisation here.
How far is Dakshinkali from Pharping?
About 1 km south of the town, a short walk or drive.
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Editorial draft: facts are being checked against the sources below. Last checked 2026-10-06. Sources: Pharping, Wikipedia, Pharping, Wikivoyage