18/08/2026
OLD PHOTOs of NUNNERY.
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-: VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY
-: Volunteering offers impactful opportunities to support Nunnery, Schools, and Conservation Projects.
-: Email: [email protected] / [email protected]
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- : Brief Introduction of Tashi Chime Gatsal Nunnery (BIGU)
Tashi Chime Gatsal Nunnery, widely known as Bigu Nunnery or Bigu Gumba, is a historic Drikung Kagyu/Tibetan Buddhist nunnery. It sits at an altitude of 2,580 meters (8,250 feet) in Ward Number 7 of Bigu Rural Municipality in the Dolakha District of Bagmati Province, Nepal on a remote mountain ridge in the Dolakha District of Nepal, near the Tibet border.
It is very close to the Tibet and Nepal border and in front of Mount GAURI SHANKAR (7,146m/23439ft). Drukpa Rinpoche Geshe Sherab Dorjee constructed it in 1934 with the great help of the local Sherpa people. It is located just below one top hill around one of Sherpa’s villages in the coldest area. This nunnery is the main devoted place of local people for accumulating the merits. The great Rinpoche was a non-sectarian in his life. His all nun disciples are practicing non-sectarian too.
He was practicing both Sutra and Ta**ra. He also has studied all four schools of Tibetan Buddhism. After he finished studies, he visited many different remote places of Himalayas, taught about the practice of fast, Non-violence, compassion and Bodhisattva's practices to his monks, nuns, and lay followers.
Especially he succeeded in stopping killing animals for eating or selling meat wherever he visited. These nuns had to cook by themselves from the last seventy-five years even living in the nunnery. Now they have had the common kitchen since July 2008. They collected the offering money like Mani prayers, Tara prayers and fast practices.
This nunnery is just below the top hill at a very quiet, peaceful and beautiful area. Nowadays it has already become like a pilgrim and main center of the devotion. It seems a very important responsibility for the monastery to guide people about non-violence. The main source is potatoes because of the very cold weather. The west side from the nunnery there is a peace forest, north side there is a hill with forest and small rivers falling down, east side there is Sherpa's villages and south side there is a Sherpa and Thami village too.
If we look from the main point of view, then this nunnery is one of the main centers for those devotee people to practice dharma according to their wishes. When you go through the daily dharma routine and continuity practices of those nuns then you will realize there has already been progress of peace environments after building the nunnery. It is not only the main point of dharma but also the success of visitors from different countries as well. Anyone feels very calm, peaceful and likes to stay for a few days when they arrive there. They would have an unusual experience of mental peace and happiness when they stay for days there.
I am Tashi Phuntsok (Director/General Secretary) who first time visited Tashi Chime Gatsal Nunnery on 2009/Nov/04 with a volunteer group. From that day onwards, we are supporting the administration of nunnery in different ways by taking international and national volunteers to help on teaching to nuns, especially English and conversation classes to all age’s groups, helping in growing green vegetables in modern techniques, school with library, herbal medicinal plants etc. Lots of volunteers have been there to help nuns and experience the lifestyles of nuns.
On September/13/2013, established Himalayan Guge Organization. It is a non-governmental organization (NGO) founded in 2013. HGO’s projects are wholly non-profit and are non-political. HGO’s primary purpose is to foster and promote health (through the Science of Healing, Sowa-Rigpa or Sorig), education, culture and community in the Himalayan region.
This volunteer trip will make you very memorable with a meaningful trip in your whole life and it will be your life changing experience. This volunteer trip will not be only volunteering but also trekking to such beautiful places, by crossing Tinsang pass (3,320m) view of Mt. Gauri Shankar (7,146m/23439ft) and view of three big mountains from Tibet with culture of Sherpa, Tamang, Magar, Thami etc.
This volunteer trip is going to be a campaign by camping with our kitchen staff with delicious fresh and warm foods, using tents and sleeping bags but at Nunnery, you will stay in the Guest House of Nunnery.
The Itineraries (…. Days)
Day 01 - Kathmandu to Dolangsa by driving Jeep (6-7Hrs)
Day 02 - Trek from Dolangsa to Bigu (6-7Hrs)
Day 03 to -- Day … - Volunteering at BIGU)
Day 01 - Hike from Bigu to Dolangsa
Day 02 - Take Jeep or Bus from Dolangsa to Kathmandu
Another Option
Day 01: Drive by Bus from Kathmandu to Singati (9-10Hrs)
Day 02: Hike from Singati to Bigu (7-8Hrs)
Day 03: to Day ……. (Volunteering at BIGU
Day …: Trek from Bigu to Singati (6-7hrs)
Day …. : Drive by Bus from Singati to Kathmandu (9-10Hrs)
At Nunnery – We have 2 Guest House (Upper & Lower):
1. The Upper Guest House is more comfortable as it has a toilet and bathroom inside the building and rooms are bigger.
Have a beautiful garden and courtyard in front of the guest house.
2. Lower Guest House – bathroom and toilet is outside and rooms are smaller.
But both guest houses have hot showers and western toilets and you can always go to the Nunnery kitchen and eat with nuns.
Therefore, the costs of your stay at Nunnery will depend on how many days and which guest house. Then we will charge your travel expenses as accommodation and food on the way to and from Bigu as well as your guide salary for both dropping and picking from and to BIGU – Volunteering Placement.
The cost of the Volunteering Trip US $ … .00 per/Participant.
T – House Volunteering Trip - includes Accommodation, Guide and all Meals.
The Cost Include(s)
1. Ground Transportation Kathmandu/Dolangsa by Jeep
2. Accommodation in T- House during the trek
3. Full meals per day during the trek (B/L/D)
4. Licensed trekking guide
5. Food, accommodation at Nunnery
The Cost Exclude(s)
1. Gaurishankar Conservation Area Project Permit
2. If need Porter
3. Tips for guide, porters
4. Travel and medical insurance in case of emergency
5. Emergency rescue evacuation
6. Unforeseeable expenses incurred due to accidents, strikes, natural calamities, political unrest, etc.
Thanking You
With warm regards,
Tashi Phuntsok
+977-9851231021 (Cell/Viber/WhatsApp)
Director / General Secretary
Himalayan Guge Organization – HGO
: For Socio-cultural, Health, Education & Community Development.
"Individuals can make a difference in Society"
