Pelmo Choeding Monastery

Pelmo Choeding Monastery is situated in Tinchully, which is 15-20 minutes walk from the Bodhnath Stupa in Kathmandu valley. The area is home to a large number of monasteries, representing the diversity of living traditions within Tibetan Buddhism. Of these, however, Pelmo Choeding is the only one belonging to the Bodong tradition. It is the only Bodong monastery outside of Tibet.

Old Pelmo Choeding Monastery in Tibet

The monastery is unique not only in its practice of the Bodong tradition. It has also been built in an unusual architectural style. Christian Indermühle, a well-known Swiss architect, was encouraged to design the monastery by Marlies Kornfeld, after her discussions with the Porong community in Nepal. Christian researched traditional Tibetan architecture through books and visiting Tibetan monasteries on the subject, as well as taking part in discussions with the community in Nepal before drawing up the plans. Marlies supported the construction throughout, and visited the site regularly to check the process of the building work.

Pelmo Choeding has been designed and built with some features that differ from those found within traditional Tibetan architecture. However, everybody in the community agrees that it looks wonderful. Even in the Tibetan community, there are many people with no knowledge of the Bodong tradition, or of the existence of a Bodong monastery in exile. Yet, thanks to the interest taken by westerners, and the expertise of a wiss architect, the Porong Community now has a monastery of which they can truly be proud. Many feel that this is due to a special karmic connection, and we are deeply grateful to Marlies for her important and unique contribution and introducing a wonderful architect, Christian, as well as his wife, Elsbeth.