Vihara

n. Buddhist monastery or temple

Vihara (विहार) is Sanskrit or Pali for (Buddhist) monastery. It originally meant "dwelling" or "refuge", such as those used by wandering monks during the rainy season. In the early decades of Buddhism the wandering monks of the Sangha had no fixed abode, but during the rainy season (cf. vassa) they stayed in temporary shelters. These dwellings were simple wooden constructions or thatched bamboo huts. However, as it was considered an act of merit not only to feed a monk but also to shelter him, sumptuous monasteries were created by rich lay devotees (Mitra 1971). They were located near settlements, close enough for begging alms from the population but with enough seclusion to not disturb meditation.
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Vihara (Sanskrit) [from vi-hri to spend or pass time, roam, wander through] A Buddhist or Jain monastery or temple; originally a hall where the monks met or walked about, afterwards used as temples. Today those viharas are in towns and cities, but in earlier times they were generally rock-temples or caves found only in unfrequented jungles, on mountaintops, and in the most deserted places.

see WIHARA