The Tibetan Nuns Project (TNP), a US-registered charity based in Seattle and in the Kangra District of Himachal Pradesh, India, recently reported on the success of a project to improve the living conditions for the Buddhist nuns of Sherab Choeling Nunnery in the Spiti Valley of Himachal Pradesh, northern India.
The ground floor of the high-altitude nunnery had posed a serious health hazard to the nuns because of cold, damp, and mold, with five nuns falling ill as a consequence.
“In the spring of 2025, the nuns at Sherab Choeling Nunnery . . . requested assistance to insulate the ground floor of their nunnery,” the TNP said in an announcement shared with BDG. “We are happy to report that, thanks to 44 generous donors, the insulation and wood panelling project at [the] nunnery has now been completed.”
The nunnery’s buildings were constructed using traditional methods, employing mud and local materials. The TNP noted that while this was culturally appropriate for the region and the nuns, the aging structures had developed significant damp issues that encouraged the growth of mold on interior walls.
“Poor insulation against the extreme cold and persistent moisture retention led to unhealthy living conditions, and several nuns developed health problems, including joint pain, knee and back problems, and increased physical discomfort during the winter months, which impacted their ability to carry out their daily tasks,” the TNP remarked.
With donor funding in place, and a mild recent winter, wood panelling could be fitted to the nunnery’s residential quarters, kitchen and dining area, and the temple and prayer hall.
“The nuns report that the wood panels are helping to keep the rooms warmer,” the TNP related. “They also reduce dampness and prevent mold from growing because black foam [has been] placed between the walls and the wood panels. This method is commonly practiced by people in the Spiti Valley to protect their homes from dampness and mold.”
“Ani Butith, who has been in the nunnery for the past 30 years and currently acts as the administrator, conveyed sincere appreciation on behalf of all the nuns,” the TNP added. “She shared that although they may not be able to repay the generosity materially, they will offer Long Life and Tara prayers at the nunnery dedicated to all donors and supporters as a gesture of their gratitude.”
Founded in 1995, Sherab Choeling is a non-sectarian nunnery established to educate Himalayan Buddhist nuns who would otherwise have no access to formal or spiritual education. There are currently about 60 nuns at Sherab Choeling who follow a 17-year study program that includes Buddhist philosophy, and Tibetan, Hindi, and English languages and is aimed at providing the nuns with the skills to educate future generations of nuns and the members of the communities from which they come.
“Typically, women who live in remote areas like Spiti and who are interested in studying or practicing their religion have very few options,” the TNP observed. “The Tibetan Nuns Project was approached by the nunnery in 2006 to help them develop their institution and we accepted them into our sponsorship program.”
“[The nuns] live and study in extremely harsh climatic conditions, especially during winter when temperatures fall well below freezing and heavy snowfall often isolates the region,” the TNP observed. “The nuns have expressed great happiness and satisfaction with the completed work. This project marks a meaningful improvement in both their physical well-being and daily living environment.”
The Tibetan Nuns Project provides education and humanitarian aid to refugee nuns from Tibet and Himalayan regions of India. Established under the auspices of the Tibetan Women’s Association and the Department of Religion and Culture of the Central Tibetan Administration, the TNP supports hundreds of nuns from all Tibetan Buddhist lineages and seven nunneries. Many of the nuns are refugees from Tibet, but the organization also reaches out to the Himalayan border areas of India, where women and girls have little access to formal education and religious training. Sponsor a nun.
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Tibetan Nuns Project
Sherab Choeling (Tibetan Nuns Project)
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