Culture & Heritage Preservation

The people of Humla are justifiably proud of their culture and heritage which, due to the isolation of the area, has changed little over the centuries.  The area borders Tibet and the main religion is Buddhism, albeit with strong Hindu influences.  Hidden within the mountains of the Himalayas are some of the oldest buddhist monasteries in the world.

In 1996 the Buddhist and Hindu communities of the Dozam valley approached the Nepal Trust with an urgent request for help rebuilding one of the oldest monasteries in the region - Raling Gompa. 

On limited funds it is always difficult to prioritise our projects, and the restoration would not have been possible without the generous support of the family of Mike Metters, a young man who, at the age of 21, sadly died of a rare form of cancer.  Through their tireless efforts, enough money was raised to virtually rebuild the gompa, and ensure its preservation for years to come. 

Following this successful outcome, the Nepal Trust was approached by UNESCO to facilitate the conservation of Halji Gompa in the North of the district.

Read about the collaboration UNESCO and the Nepal Trust