Gompa Restoration Project

In 2012, a major earthquake struck Rumtek and damaged all the nunnery buildings, including the gompa. Some repairs were made, but then in 2022, a particularly bad monsoon season further damaged the gompa beyond repair. The original gompa design had a flat roof which meant it was especially vulnerable to the weight of heavy rainfall, and earthquake cracking had weakened this further. A thorough building inspection revealed that the gompa was no longer safe to use. Minor repairs were not sufficient to address the problems, so a major reconstruction project was commenced. Shrine objects and texts have been wrapped and relocated into safe storage and a small temporary prayer room and shrine has been set up in the old school building.

 

Starting in late 2022, the old gompa has been carefully stripped back to the framework, and rebuilt with more structural pillars, new walls, a new sloping metal roof and gutters to deflect heavy rains, insulation for warmth, more space in the prayer hall, improved lighting and a covered entrance area. The second storey will have an outdoor pavillion for open-air practices, rooms for torma sculpture and space for visiting teachers,  Cabinetwork for the statues, shrines and texts is underway; glass for windows and display cabinets will be ordered soon. Traditional Tibetan painting of the walls, pillars and decorative details is hoped to commence in late 2024. KCD nuns have been enthusiastic in assisting with labour just as the original founding nuns helped to build the original gompa. You can see some photos of the restoration work in progress, in the gallery below - more will be added as the project continues. 

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We need your help! 

Much work remains to achieve a full restoration of the gompa, to continue the good progress that has been made. There is still a significant need for more donations to complete this importance piece of cultural preservation, particularly for the costs of traditional painting, which requires hiring an artisan painter who specialises in Tibetan Thangkas and gompa murals. Those wishing to offer donations to support the gompa restoration can find information about how to do so on the "Support KCD" page. The nuns are very grateful for your help to restore the gompa to full function as a beautiful space for nuns to work, for the community to meet for prayer services, and for visitors seeking quiet contemplation.