Wellness · Nepal
Thubten Choling Monastery, Solu
A large Tibetan retreat community above Junbesi in Solu, founded by the renowned hermit Trulshik Rinpoche.
Thubten Choling Monastery is one of the largest Tibetan Buddhist retreat communities in Nepal, set on a quiet hillside above the village of Junbesi in the Solu region of Solukhumbu, below the famous Everest trekking trails. Founded by the renowned Nyingma hermit Kyabje Trulshik Rinpoche after he fled Tibet, it grew from a small retreat into a thriving community of hundreds of monks and nuns devoted to meditation and study. For trekkers and pilgrims passing through Solu, it offers a rare glimpse of living monastic practice far from the cities.
A master in exile
Thubten Choling owes its existence to Kyabje Trulshik Rinpoche, one of the most respected Nyingma masters of recent times and a holder of the Rongphu lineage from the Tibetan side of Everest. After the upheavals in Tibet, he settled in Solu and built Thubten Choling as a place where the teachings, rituals and retreat traditions of his lineage could continue. His reputation drew practitioners from across the Himalaya, and the community swelled, becoming especially known for its large population of nuns. To understand the lineage within the wider faith, see our guide to Buddhism in Nepal.
A community of retreat
Unlike the teaching monasteries of Kathmandu, Thubten Choling is first and foremost a place of practice. Monks and nuns undertake long meditation retreats, study sacred texts and maintain the daily cycle of puja, while the surrounding hillside is dotted with retreat huts. The atmosphere is contemplative and unhurried, shaped by the rhythm of prayer rather than the demands of visitors. Travellers who come here should do so as quiet guests, mindful that they are entering a working spiritual community.
In the Solu landscape
The monastery sits in the gentle, terraced country of Solu, the lower portion of Solukhumbu, where Sherpa villages, forests and rhododendron slopes lead up toward the high Everest region. It lies close to classic trekking routes — the historic Jiri-to-Everest trail and the scenic Pikey Peak route both pass through this area — making it a natural stop for walkers. For the wider picture, see our overview of Everest region treks and our roundup of the best treks in Nepal.
Getting there and visiting
Reaching Thubten Choling means travelling to the Salleri or Phaplu area of Solukhumbu by road or by the short flight to Phaplu, then continuing by vehicle and trail toward Junbesi and up to the monastery. Allow time and a head for hill travel. Visit respectfully — remove your shoes at the prayer hall, walk clockwise, keep quiet and ask before photographing. Thubten Choling pairs well with the Kagyu seat of Benchen Monastery near Kathmandu as a contrast between mountain retreat and city teaching centre, and it is one of six sites in our collection of the famous Buddhist monasteries of Nepal. Plan your trip with our best time to visit Nepal guide.
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Frequently asked questions
Where is Thubten Choling Monastery?+
Thubten Choling stands on a hillside above the village of Junbesi in the Solu region of Solukhumbu district, eastern Nepal, below the main Everest trekking area. It is reached by road and trail from the Salleri or Phaplu area, a day's journey beyond the lower Everest trailheads.
Who founded Thubten Choling?+
The monastery was established by Kyabje Trulshik Rinpoche, one of the most revered Nyingma masters of his generation and a teacher associated with the Rongphu tradition of Tibet. After fleeing Tibet, he built Thubten Choling into a major centre of practice and retreat in Solu.
Can trekkers visit Thubten Choling?+
Yes, respectful visitors are welcome, and the monastery lies near the classic Jiri-to-Everest and Pikey Peak trekking routes through Solu. It is a working retreat community of monks and many nuns, so visit quietly, do not disturb practitioners and ask before photographing.
Is Thubten Choling a monastery or a nunnery?+
It is a large mixed community. While founded as a monastery, Thubten Choling became home to hundreds of nuns as well as monks, making it one of the biggest centres of Tibetan Buddhist nuns in Nepal and an important place of long-term meditation retreat.
