Sacred Valleys of the Himalayas

The popular notion of Shangri-la is believed to have been inspired by the concept of beyuls which are isolated, tranquil Himalayan valleys suitable for spiritual retreat.  According to Himalayan tradition, Padmasambhava brought Buddhism to the Himalayas and set aside many Himalayan valleys as future sanctuaries and hid them to be discovered by people in times of conflict, famine, disease, destruction and threats to spiritual freedom.  In addition to their status as sacred valleys, beyuls are endowed with abundant natural resources including pure water, diverse ecosystems, and fertile soils.

While several of these valleys have already been identified and settled, it is believed that many more are awaiting discovery. In the eastern Nepal Himalaya alone, local people consider the valleys of Khembalung, Khumbu, Rolwaling, Rongshar, Yolmo, Langtang, Kyirong, and Nubri to be beyuls.

Growing external influences have compromised indigenous, time-tested wisdom and respect for the land.  In response, many beyuls have been designated as parks and protected areas to conserve biological diversity and human cultures. In 2004, TMI received a grant from The Ford Foundation to support the Sacred Sites Trails Project in the Khumbu, Nepal.  The objectives were to improve the livelihoods of local people by expanding community-managed tourism to new areas of Sagarmatha National Park and Buffer Zone, to conserve the natural environment, and to restore the cultural traditions of lesser known sacred sites.  The follow-on project “Building Livelihoods Along Beyul Trails,” again with support from The Ford Foundation, will incorporate the many lessons learned in order to reach out to critical new geographic areas.   

The Project

Over 20,000 foreign visitors are attracted to the Khumbu each year to enjoy the tranquility of this hidden valley.  Tourism has improved the economic circumstances of the local people and, in turn, has led to improved health care, educational opportunities, and housing. Conversely, tourism has also caused degradation of the area’s fragile environment and culture.  Government intervention resulted in the Khumbu region’s transformation into Sagamartha National Park in 1976 and subsequent recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its globally significant natural and cultural importance. The Khenpalung beyul, by contrast, receives very few tourists and is considered one of the last remaining, biologically diverse wilderness areas of Nepal.  Khenpalung was included in the Makalu-Barun National Park and its buffer zone in 1991.
 
 “Building Livelihoods along Beyul Trails” is being implemented in two adjacent valleys on the southern flanks of Mount Everest (Jomolangma).  This project focused initially on the 1,423 sq. km. Khumbu region and will later expand to the Khenpalung area. 

Objectives

• Conserve and promote local cultural heritage that supports environmental conservation.
• Improve the livelihoods of disadvantaged groups by introducing them to cultural and ecological tourism.
• Promote, replicate and manage the project model.

Activities

• Researching and documenting information on culture, spirituality and the environment to generate learning materials and share information through workshops and publications. 
• Developing interpretive facilities at Sagamartha National Park Gate for dissemination to visiting tourists.
• Developing a documentary film to educate outsiders and improve the self-esteem of local people in relation to their important cultural values and belief systems.
• Organizing regular cultural awareness programs for visitors and local communities.
• Conserving the endangered Sherpa language by compiling dictionaries and illustrated publications as learning materials as well as training indigenous instructors to teach scripts and language in schools.
• Developing tourism home-stay programs and cultural tourism activities in isolated and traditional villages to improve the livelihoods of economically marginalized communities. 
• Establishing a multi-purpose mountain center in collaboration with local and international partners to provide a permanent capacity building facility for local people in areas of cultural tourism, mountaineering, safety, sustainable farming and other enterprise opportunities.
• Providing sub-grants to monasteries to develop income generating opportunities, and to restore traditional homes for tourism accommodation.

Mission-Specificity and Replicability
This project will reflect the mission of The Mountain Institute, which includes improving mountain livelihoods, conserving mountain environments, supporting mountain cultures, and educating mountain communities and society in general.

Funding and Partnerships
The Ford Foundation has provided a grant of $400,000 over three years toward the implementation of this project in close cooperation with local people, government and NGOs.