Spiritual · Manang
Braga monastery and the old Nyeshang villages
Walk 30 minutes down-valley from Manang to Braga, a village of stacked stone houses below cliffs, and climb to its old gompa with chortens, prayer wheels and murals, among the oldest monasteries in the Nyeshang valley.
Braga, also written Bhraka, is built in tiers up a cliff face, its flat-roofed houses stacked so that one family's roof is the next family's yard. Above the village stands the gompa, a Tibetan Buddhist monastery of the old school, with a row of chortens and prayer flags at its feet. It is one of the oldest religious buildings in the valley.
Inside, if the caretaker is present, you may see painted murals, rows of statues and old texts. Make a donation, walk clockwise and do not photograph inside without permission. The view from the terrace across the valley to Annapurna III and Gangapurna is one of the finest in the area.
Walk back through the village lanes, past mani walls carved with the mantra om mani padme hum and prayer wheels set in the walls. Elders sit on rooftops spinning wool or drying grain. Combine the visit with the Ice Lake hike, which starts from Braga, or with a slow rest day in Manang.
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Questions
How old is Braga monastery?
Braga's gompa is often described as around 500 years old and among the oldest in the Nyeshang valley, but we have not found a firm, documented founding date. Treat age claims with caution. What is certain is that it is an important old Tibetan Buddhist monastery for the villages of upper Manang, with old statues and murals.
Can tourists enter Braga gompa?
Visitors are generally welcome when a caretaker is present to open it, usually for a small donation. Remove shoes and hats, walk clockwise, do not touch statues or texts and ask before photographing, especially inside. Opening is not guaranteed; ask at a lodge in Braga or Manang about the caretaker's hours.
How far is Braga from Manang?
Braga is about 2 km down-valley from Manang, about 30 minutes' walk on the main trail, slightly lower in altitude. It has its own lodges, and some trekkers prefer to sleep here because it is quieter. The Ice Lake trail starts from Braga, making it a convenient base for the acclimatisation day.
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