Sacred Sites in the Mustang Region 0f Nepal
& The Chairro Gompa Restoration
September 22 – October 3, 2008
A Volunteer Vacation Sponsored by Sacred Sites International & Cultural Restoration Tourism
Nepal – The Chairro Gompa Restoration
Join CRTP and Sacred Sites International on this volunteer vacation helping restore the Chairro Gompa and enjoying day treks to visit other villages and their sacred sites in the area. Along the way you will meet the wonderful people of Nepal’s Mustang region, one of the most traditional and remote areas of the country. The Chairro Gompa Restoration Project is a great opportunity for you to help Nepali people preserve an important part of their cultural heritage and daily life.
The Chairro Gompa (Gompa is the Tibetan word for ‘Buddhist monastery’) is a 300 year-old building that was once the religious center of the Takhali people of the Mustang region of Nepal. When the Chinese government closed the border to Tibet, the villages along the trade route met with economic hardship. The affluent salt traders of the region were forced to relocate in order to support themselves and their families. The Chairro Gompa fell into poverty although for many years the people of the area still came to the monastery to perform their religious practices. The dwindling population found it difficult to support and maintain the gompa. The last of the resident monks left Chairro in the 1970’s and the fate of the gompa was left to the elements and to a handful of locals who tried to conserve the building to the best of their abilities.

The harsh weather conditions of the area have taken their toll on the outer structure of the gompa and the treasures inside are at risk of being lost forever. Centuries-old wall paintings and sculptures dwell precariously in a building on the verge of collapse. Without immediate attention these works of master artists and craftsmen will be erased from existence. You can join this CRTP and Sacred Sites International group going to Chairro and participate in the restoration.
Lama Sashi Doj, a world-renowned painter and Buddhist monk, is now in charge of the restoration and conservation of the fine artwork of Chairro Gompa. He belongs to the family of artists who were responsible for many of the sculptures and wall paintings at Chairro and at other gompas in the area dating back five generations. For the future of Chairro, Sashi is also establishing the first teaching component of the monastery by providing monastic art training and secular infrastructure such as a medical clinic.
Anyone from any background can participate!  For more information about this program or to find out how to sign up, click on the Sign Up Now at the Cultural Restoration Tourism Project’s Website: www.crtp.net

What is Volunteer Tourism?
Programs hosted by the Cultural Restoration Tourism Project are always community initiated. They help communities who want to help themselves, but do not have the resources to do it on their own. The restoration efforts aid communities in their sustainable development both environmentally and economically. The restored buildings will not become museums, but functional cultural centers within the communities. CRTP facilitates the coming together of local specialists within the host country to ensure the success of their programs.

Trip Sponsors
The Cultural Restoration Tourism Project, www.crtp.net, is a unique non-profit organization established to provide communities around the world with a chance to restore cultural artifacts that are in danger of extinction. What really makes us different is that we give people like you, from any background, the opportunity to participate in the restoration process. Our participants spend their vacations putting their hearts and hands to work on something truly meaningful. They return from their experience invigorated, knowing that they have had a real impact on the community they chose to visit. Our opportunities allow travelers to get a true experience of the culture, its people and its traditions. Contact: info@crtp.net

Sacred Sites International, www.sacred-sites.org, is a non-profit organization founded in 1990. Our mission is to use education, media, activism, and direct experience to foster the preservation of endangered natural and built sacred places and increase awareness and respect for the diverse cultures and the spiritual practices associated with the sites. Contact us at: sacredsite@aol.com

Tour Details

The tour fee for double occupancy is US $2795($2795 for reservations made before June 15th and $3095 for reservations made after June 15th.) and is tax-deductible as allowable in the United States. This includes room and board and domestic travel in Nepal. Single occupancy is available on most parts of the tour for an extra fee.
Each participant independently arranges international flights. CRTP will have a representative meet you at the airport for the arrival of your international flight and provide transportation to your accommodations Please try to book your international flights early. Most participants work with a travel agent that has experience booking flights to and from your destination. Cultural Restoration Tourism does have travel agents that they know and trust if you need a referral. We strongly suggest trip cancellation insurance.
All Reservations are secured with a US $500.00 deposit. The balance is due 45 days prior to your departure date.
Tour fees and deposits are refundable up to 90 days of the departure dates, less a US$75.00 administration fee. Tour fees are 50% refundable up to 50 days of your departure date. Sorry, no refunds within 50 days of tours, but please contact Cultural Restoration Tourism Project and they will help you to rebook for another tour. CRTP is handling the trip arrangements and you can sign up by e-mailing info@crtp.net

Trip Itinerary(Word Doc)

ssif / events & travel / Bali