Heritage · Tsum Valley
The valley of peace: a Shyagya village walk
Walk through Chhokangparo and neighbouring villages with a local guide who explains the Shyagya, the century-old vow of non-violence that forbids hunting, trapping and the sale of animals for slaughter in Tsum.
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Tsum is one of the few places in the Himalaya where a whole valley has written down and sworn to a rule of non-violence. In about 1920, under the guidance of lamas, the people of upper Tsum agreed the Shyagya, sealed with thumbprints on a document. Lower Tsum joined in 2012, and the centenary was marked in 2023.
On this walk through the villages around Chhokangparo, your guide explains what the vow means in practice: no hunting, no traps, no harvesting wild honey, no selling livestock for slaughter, no setting fire to forests. You see its effects in animals that are relaxed around people and in forests and pastures cared for in common.
You also see the challenges: limited cash income, the pull of jobs in Kathmandu and abroad, and how to balance tourism with tradition. It is a walk about ideas as much as landscape.
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Questions
What is the Shyagya in Tsum Valley?
The Shyagya is a collective vow of non-violence adopted by the people of upper Tsum in about 1920, under the guidance of lamas, and by lower Tsum in 2012. It forbids hunting, trapping, harvesting wild honey, selling livestock for slaughter and burning forests. It is still observed today.
Can I eat meat in the Tsum Valley?
Under the Shyagya, animals are not slaughtered in the valley, so lodges serve mainly vegetarian food. Some places may have meat brought in from outside, but it is better to eat vegetarian during your stay as a sign of respect. Do not bring live animals or hunt anything in Tsum.
Are there wild animals in the Tsum Valley?
Yes. The valley lies in the Manaslu Conservation Area, home to blue sheep, Himalayan tahr and snow leopards. Because hunting is forbidden under the Shyagya, animals such as blue sheep are often less shy here. Snow leopards remain very rarely seen.
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