Matepani Gumba Explained

Matepani Gumba
Native Name:Matepani Gumba
Religious Affiliation:Buddhists
Map Type:Nepal
Location:Matepani, Pokhara
Deity:Buddha
Festivals:Losar, Buddha Jayanti
Municipality:Pokhara Metropolitan City
District:Kaski
Province:Gandaki
Completed:1960 A.D

Matepani Gumba[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] located in Matepani, Kundahar area of Pokhara, Kaski District of the Gandaki Zone in western Nepal. It was established in 1960 A.D.by Nyeshang people who migrated to Pokhara from Manang. Situated on a small hill, east of the Pokhara city, the monastery is about five km from Mahendrapul. This gumba is situated on the top of a green hill mountain.

Monks praying

Several times a day one of the Buddhist monks will grab a gong and announce the time for prayer with a bang. Like ants out of the woodwork, all of the students and teachers of the monastery come clambering out of their dormitories and offices to enter the grand hall of the gumba.

Typically these prayers are held in the morning and late afternoon. But if there is some special event or holiday, the monks may be cooped up in the temple for the entire day reciting prayers and mantras. Depending on how strict the temple is or how many friends you made with the resident monks, you may even be invited to sit in on one of the prayers.

Grand Hall

The interior of the Matepani Gumba[9] is decorated with bright elaborate murals depicting stories from Buddha’s life and myths related to the various deities which make up the religion.

Transportation

Local public buses are available from Mahendrapul and Kahukhola.

Local taxis are also available.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Matepani Gumba (Buddhist Monastery) – Tourism Kaski. 2020-06-29. en-US.
  2. Web site: 2017-02-17. Matepani Gumba Buddhist Monastery in Pokhara. 2020-06-29. Blon Holiday. en.
  3. Web site: Matepani Gumba (Pokhara) - 2020 All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos). 2020-06-29. Tripadvisor. en.
  4. Web site: 2017-07-23. Monasteries at risk of landslide. 2020-06-28. The Himalayan Times. en-US.
  5. Web site: Subedi. Santosh. Matepani gumba at high risk of landslide. 2020-06-28. My Republica. en.
  6. Web site: Google Maps. 2020-06-28. Google Maps. en.
  7. Web site: Matepani Gumba (Pokhara) - 2020 All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos). 2020-06-28. Tripadvisor. en.
  8. Web site: Matepani Gumba (Buddhist Monastery) – Tourism Kaski. 2020-06-28. en-US.
  9. Web site: Kundahar. 2020-06-29.