Rachen Gompa, Tsum Valley: Complete Guide For Trekkers

A Nunnery Hidden in the Himalaya

Most trekkers come to Tsum Valley for Mu Gompa, the high monastery near the Tibetan border. Many leave remembering Rachen Gompa just as much. This Buddhist nunnery, founded in 1905, sits in Upper Tsum beside the Shiar Khola, a short walk from Chhokang Paro. Dozens of nuns live, study and pray here, and for a few hours you get a quiet look at a way of life that has continued for more than a century.

This guide explains Rachen Gompa's history, what you'll see, how to get there and how to visit respectfully. It's a highlight of Day 9 on our 13-day Tsum Valley Trek, on the way down from Mu Gompa.

Rachen Gompa at a Glance

Detail	Information
Full name	Jangchub Choling Rachen Nunnery
Location	Upper Tsum Valley, near Chhokang Paro, Gorkha district, Manaslu Conservation Area
Altitude	About 3,240 m
Founded	1905, by the Bhutanese lama Drukpa Rinpoche Ngawang Palsang
Run by	Kopan Monastery (FPMT, Tibetan Buddhist) since 2003
Community	Around 80 nuns in the main season; fewer in winter
Visit on	Day 9 of our trek, between Mu Gompa and Chhokang Paro
Time to allow	1–2 hours
Permits	Tsum Valley Restricted Area Permit + Manaslu Conservation Area Permit
Best months	March–May and September–November

History of Rachen Gompa

Rachen Gompa, formally Jangchub Choling Rachen Nunnery, was founded in 1905 by the Bhutanese lama Drukpa Rinpoche Ngawang Palsang. He is also remembered in Tsum for a pledge that banned the killing of animals in the valley, which is why hunting and slaughter are still traditionally avoided here.

His reincarnation, the 2nd Drukpa Rinpoche Ngawang Khenrab, later offered both Rachen Nunnery and nearby Mu Gompa to Kopan Monastery in Kathmandu, part of the international Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT). Kopan has managed the nunnery since 2003 and introduced a structured education programme for the nuns (University of Bern research).

In 2012, the valley revived the old non-violence pledge at the Tsum Valley Shyakya Festival, attended by Nepal's Prime Minister. The tradition remains part of daily life around Rachen and Mu Gompa.

Life of the Nuns

Rachen is a working nunnery, not a museum. Around 80 nuns live here in the main season, from young girls in training to senior practitioners. Their days revolve around prayer, chanting, meditation, study of Buddhist philosophy and Tibetan language, and care of the buildings.

The nuns have long served the surrounding villages too, performing prayers, rituals and fasting practices on their behalf. In return, villagers have traditionally given barley flour, potatoes, butter and firewood.

In winter, when Upper Tsum is bitterly cold, most nuns move to Kopan's Khachoe Ghakyil Ling Nunnery in Kathmandu, leaving a few senior nuns and some young nuns behind. Visit in spring or autumn to see the community at its fullest.

What You'll See at Rachen Gompa

• The assembly hall, with Buddhist statues, butter lamps and painted walls
• Thangkas and murals depicting Buddhist deities and teachings
• Prayer wheels and chortens around the courtyard
• Nuns' living quarters, small stone houses clustered around the main buildings
• Views across the Shiar Khola valley to the surrounding peaks and the barley fields of Upper Tsum

If prayers are in session, you may be invited to sit quietly at the back. The hall is opened at the nuns' discretion; your guide will ask.

Nearby Sights

Site	Distance from Rachen	Why visit
Mu Gompa	Half a day's walk up-valley	Highest and largest monastery in Tsum, about 3,700 m
Chhokang Paro	Short walk	Village on a wide plateau with views of Himalchuli; overnight stop
Milarepa's Cave (Piren Phu)	On the Day 8 route	Cave where the 11th-century yogi Milarepa is believed to have meditated
Nile and Chhule	Up-valley, toward Mu Gompa	Last villages before the Tibetan border

See the full route on our Tsum Valley Trek page, or extend your trip with the Ganesh Himal Base Camp side trip.

How to Get to Rachen Gompa

Rachen Gompa is reached on foot as part of a guided Tsum Valley trek. Tsum is a restricted area, so you need a licensed guide, at least two trekkers, and permits arranged through a registered agency.

Leg	Route	Time
1	Drive Kathmandu → Machha Khola (930 m)	8–9 hours
2	Machha Khola → Jagat → Lokpa	2 days
3	Lokpa → Chumling → Chhokang Paro (3,031 m)	2 days
4	Chhokang Paro → Mu Gompa (about 3,700 m)	5–6 hours
5	Mu Gompa → Rachen Gompa → Chhokang Paro	5–6 hours, 13 km

On our itinerary you visit Rachen on Day 9, on the way down from Mu Gompa, then sleep at Chhokang Paro. If you'd like more time with the nuns, ask us to plan a slower day. See the full Tsum Valley Trek itinerary.

Where to Stay

Most trekkers sleep at Chhokang Paro, a short walk from the nunnery, in simple teahouses or family homestays. Rooms are basic with shared toilets, and nights are cold, so bring a warm sleeping bag. The nunnery itself is a place of practice; overnight stays there aren't part of standard itineraries.

Best Time to Visit

Season	Months	What to expect
Autumn	September–November	Clear skies, dry trails; most nuns in residence
Spring	March–May	Milder weather; nuns return from Kathmandu in spring
Monsoon	June–August	Landslides on the approach trail and road
Winter	December–February	Very cold; most nuns are in Kathmandu

Altitude

At about 3,240 m, Rachen Gompa is lower than Mu Gompa, and you reach it while descending, so altitude is rarely a problem here. You'll already have slept at about 3,700 m the night before. If you felt unwell at Mu Gompa, the descent to Rachen and Chhokang Paro usually brings relief.

Etiquette: How to Visit a Nunnery Respectfully

• Greet the nuns with "Tashi Delek"
• Remove shoes and hats before entering the assembly hall
• Walk clockwise around chortens, prayer wheels and the buildings
• Ask before taking any photos, especially of nuns, ceremonies or the hall interior
• Don't enter living quarters or closed rooms unless invited
• Dress modestly, with shoulders and knees covered
• Keep voices low and phones silent during prayers
• Don't bring meat; respect the valley's non-violence tradition
• Leave a small donation for the nunnery

Practical Tips

• Plan your Day 9 so you reach Rachen in the late morning or early afternoon
• Carry small Nepalese rupee notes for donations; there are no ATMs in the valley
• Bring a small, useful gift only if your guide suggests it (school supplies are often welcome); avoid sweets
• Ask your guide to explain the paintings and rituals; it makes the visit far richer

Visit Rachen Gompa with Nepal Trip Services

Our Tsum Valley Trek includes Rachen Gompa on Day 9, after your night at Mu Gompa. With us you get:

• A licensed local guide who can explain the nunnery's history and rituals and ask permission on your behalf
• Tsum Restricted Area Permit and MCAP arranged
• One porter for every two trekkers
• Group departures for solo travellers, plus private treks at your own pace
• Options to add an acclimatization night, Ganesh Himal Base Camp or the Manaslu Circuit

Have questions about visiting the nunnery? Message us on WhatsApp.

Top 15 FAQs: Rachen Gompa, Tsum Valley

1. What is Rachen Gompa?

Rachen Gompa, formally Jangchub Choling Rachen Nunnery, is a Tibetan Buddhist nunnery in Upper Tsum Valley, Nepal. Around 80 nuns live, study and pray there in the main season. It's one of the most important religious sites in the valley, alongside Mu Gompa.

2. Where is Rachen Gompa located?

It's in Upper Tsum, near the village of Chhokang Paro, in Gorkha district inside the Manaslu Conservation Area. It sits beside the Shiar Khola, about half a day's walk below Mu Gompa.

3. What is the altitude of Rachen Gompa?

About 3,240 m. That's lower than Mu Gompa (about 3,700 m) and a little higher than Chhokang Paro (3,031 m).

4. When was Rachen Gompa founded?

In 1905, by the Bhutanese lama Drukpa Rinpoche Ngawang Palsang, according to research from the University of Bern. That makes it more than 120 years old.

5. Who runs Rachen Gompa today?

Since 2003 the nunnery has been managed by Kopan Monastery in Kathmandu, part of the international FPMT. Kopan introduced a structured education programme for the nuns.

6. Can tourists visit Rachen Gompa?

Yes. Trekkers on the Tsum Valley trek can visit, usually on the way down from Mu Gompa. Visits are at the nuns' discretion, so your guide will ask first. Dress modestly, follow the etiquette and leave a small donation.

7. How do I get to Rachen Gompa?

On a guided trek. Drive from Kathmandu to Machha Khola, then walk via Jagat, Lokpa, Chumling and Chhokang Paro to Mu Gompa, and visit Rachen on the way back. On our Tsum Valley Trek that's Day 9.

8. Do I need a permit to visit Rachen Gompa?

Yes. You need the Tsum Valley Restricted Area Permit and the Manaslu Conservation Area Permit, and you must trek with a licensed guide in a group of at least two. Nepal Trip Services arranges both permits.

9. Can I watch the nuns' prayers?

Sometimes. If prayers are taking place, you may be invited to sit quietly at the back of the hall. Ask your guide, stay silent, and don't take photos unless the nuns say it's fine.

10. Can I take photos at Rachen Gompa?

Photos of the buildings and views outside are usually fine. Always ask before photographing nuns, ceremonies or the inside of the assembly hall, and respect a "no".

11. Can I stay overnight at Rachen Gompa?

Overnight stays at the nunnery aren't part of standard itineraries. Trekkers usually sleep at Chhokang Paro, a short walk away, in teahouses or homestays.

12. When is the best time to visit?

Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November). Most nuns spend winter at a nunnery in Kathmandu, so the community is smaller from December to February, and the monsoon brings landslides on the approach.

13. What is the connection between Rachen Gompa and Mu Gompa?

Both were linked to the Bhutanese Drukpa Rinpoche lineage and were later offered to Kopan Monastery, which now oversees them. Most treks visit Mu Gompa on Day 8 and Rachen Gompa on Day 9.

14. Should I donate to Rachen Gompa?

A small donation is customary and helps support the nuns' education, food and the upkeep of the buildings. Put it in the donation box or hand it to a senior nun; your guide can suggest an amount.

15. What should I wear when visiting?

Modest, warm clothing that covers your shoulders and knees. You'll remove your shoes and hat inside the hall, so slip-on layers and warm socks help. Bring a warm jacket, as Upper Tsum is cold even on sunny days.

Final Thoughts

Rachen Gompa is one of the quiet treasures of the Tsum Valley trek. Founded in 1905 and still home to a community of around 80 nuns, it offers a rare, respectful glimpse of Buddhist monastic life in a remote Himalayan valley. Visit on the way down from Mu Gompa, dress modestly, ask before taking photos, and take a little time to sit in the hall if prayers are under way. Go in spring or autumn, when the nuns are in residence. Ready to plan your trip? Explore our Tsum Valley Trek with Nepal Trip Services.