Rolwaling is a remote mountain valley situated in the north east of Kathmandu, and to the west of Khumbu region. The valley is situated at an altitude of 4000m above sea level and bordered to Tibet to the north.
For the local people and in Tibetan Buddhism the valley of Rolwaling holds special religious and spiritual significance. In Tibetan language ‘Rolwa’ means ‘furrow’ and ‘ling’ means ‘place’. It is mentioned in the tex Pema Kathang by Padmasambhava (also known as Guru Urgen Rinpoche) that Rolwaling is a beyul, a sacred hidden valley, carved out with one stroke of his plow.
After creating the valley, Padmasambhava rested and meditated for three months with his consort and 100 followers. Rolwaling was thereby consecrated as a beyul, or hidden valley, one of eight beyuls created by Padmasambhava in Nepal, Bhutan and Sikkim. These valleys were created to serve as dharma sanctuaries in future times of trouble. Padhmasambava had prophesied that some Buddhists would be able to take refuge from an oppressive government, keeping the faith for more auspicious times.
Rolwaling’s special status has meant that Buddhist traditions are taken more seriously than elsewhere. Buddha’s teaching has been preserved and followed since the first Sherpa settlement in the valley. Religious festivals are very frequent and celebrated with great enthusiasm: not just with tantric rituals, but singing and dancing late into the night.
Moreover, Buddha’s teaching of non-violence and not taking life of animals is practiced with deep faith. Therefore, hunting and animal slaughter is strictly prohibited inside Rolwaling. Anyone found to be selling and buying animals for killing will be penalized by the community.
Settlements in Rolwaling
As a nomadic community, the people of Rolwaling move between three settlements throughout the year. However, the earthquakes of 2015 left their smaller winter settlement largely destroyed by a landslide, leaving their year mostly spent between the two larger settlements, Beding and Na.
Beding (3600m)
Beding is the main village of Rolwaling situated approximately 2-3 hour walk from Na in a narrow mountainous valley alongside a glacial river. People stay mostly stay here during the spring (March, April, May & June) and autumn (October/November & December) months.
Na (4200m)
The summer settlement is on a slightly sloped plateau further into the valley from Beding.
Surrounded by mountains on three sides, it is a warm and pleasant place in the spring, summer
and autumn (April – December). The community stay here for nearly six months of the year during summer and autumn.
How to get here
Reaching Rolwaling takes around ten hours in a bus or jeep from Kathmandu to Gongor followed by a 2-4 day walk through the stunning Himalayan mountains in Dolakha district, Nepal.
On your trek, you will cross and follow rivers and waterfalls, climb rough stone staircases, pass
through meadows of crops (if visiting before harvest time), enter steep valleys flanked with
rhododendrons (blooming in May and June) and visit villages and small settlements all under the gaze of the high mountains.
There are small, very basic tea houses which you can use along the way. They serve good food so there is no need for a tent or to bring your own food (apart from your favorite snacks and anything you will need during your retreat which isn’t available locally). Travelling this way means the local economy can benefit as much as possible
