Preventing Cold and Mold at Sherab Choeling
In the spring of 2025, the nuns at Sherab Choeling Nunnery in the high-altitude Spiti Valley requested assistance to insulate the ground floor of their nunnery, to protect against cold, dampness, and mold.
A “before” picture. Head nun, Ani Butith, shows the state of her room at the nunnery. Like the other 24 rooms, it suffers from visible mold and peeling walls. The rooms were very cold during winter.
The existing living conditions were posing a serious health hazard to the nuns. Five nuns had already fallen ill due to the damp and mold.
We are happy to report that, thanks to 44 generous donors, the insulation and wood panelling project at Sherab Choeling Nunnery has now been completed. Here is a report with photos and a sweet video made by the nuns.
An archival photo showing the nuns clearing snow off the roof of the nunnery. The nunnery is located at an altitude of approximately 12,500 feet (3,800 meters) and can be cut off in winter. The cold and damp were impacting the health and well-being of the nuns.
Background to the Mold and Cold Mitigation Project
Sherab Choeling Nunnery is home to approximately 60 nuns who live and study in extremely harsh climatic conditions, especially during winter when temperatures fall well below freezing and heavy snowfall often isolates the region.
The objective of this project was to address severe cold, dampness and mold issues within the nunnery buildings to improve the health and living conditions of the resident nuns.
The nunnery buildings were constructed using traditional mud and local materials. While this is culturally appropriate in the region, the aging structures developed significant damp issues over time which encouraged the growth of mold on the interior walls.
The kitchen and dining area at the nunnery was severely damaged by dampness, especially in the corners. This not only affected hygiene but also made the space difficult to maintain. Now this area has new insulation and wood panelling and is much more comfortable and healthy for the nuns.
Poor insulation against the extreme cold and persistent moisture retention led to unhealthy living conditions, and several nuns developed health problems, including joint pain, knee and back problems, and increased physical discomfort during the winter months, which impacted their ability to carry out their daily tasks.
Due to extreme winter weather and frequent road closures, the nuns found it difficult to remain in Spiti during the peak winter months. For the past few years, they have been temporarily relocating to Hamirpur, where the Spiti community generously provided hostel accommodation until the snow cleared.
The nuns unload wood for panelling project at Sherab Choeling. The major project took many months to complete and is already having a profound impact on the well-being of the nuns.
Your Generosity in Action
Despite the challenging location, the work went smoothly. Fortunately, this winter did not bring heavy snowfall, which allowed the timber wood panelling work to continue without interruption.
The following areas have now been fully completed with wood panelling:
— The nuns’ residences
— The kitchen and dining area
— The temple/prayer hall
Before and after. One of the nuns’ shared rooms with the new panelling making the space much warmer and liveable.
Huge Impact on the Nuns’ Lives
The nuns report that the wood panels are helping to keep the rooms warmer. They also reduce dampness and prevent mold from growing because black foam was placed between the wall and the wooden panels. This method is commonly practiced by people in the Spiti Valley to protect their homes from dampness and mold.
A carpenter making wood panelling for Sherab Choeling. The nuns say in their video, “It has truly changed our lives.”
The nuns have expressed great happiness and satisfaction with the completed work. This project marks a meaningful improvement in both their physical well-being and daily living environment.
The prayer room and temple room at Sherab Choeling before and after the wood panelling. You can see the damp, moldy walls on the left before the work was done to insulate the room.
The nuns of Sherab Choeling Nunnery extend their heartfelt gratitude to all donors and supporters who made this project possible.
Here’s a video that the nuns made for you. Can’t see the video? Click here.
Ani Butith, who has been in the nunnery for the past 30 years and currently acts as the administrator, conveyed sincere appreciation on behalf of all the nuns. She shared that although they may not be able to repay the generosity materially, they will offer Long Life and Tara prayers at the nunnery dedicated to all donors and supporters as a gesture of their gratitude.
A carpenter prepares wood panellling. The nuns say in their video, “Before this the cold would seep into our bones, leaving many of us with aching backs and knees. But this year is different. Our rooms are finally a sanctuary of warmth.”
Conclusion
The Mold and Cold Mitigation Project through wood paneling at Sherab Choeling Nunnery has been successfully completed. The intervention addresses long-standing issues of dampness, mold, and extreme cold exposure and is expected to bring lasting positive change to the health and daily lives of the nuns.
The nuns say the wood panelling and insulation has truly changed their lives. “Before this, the cold would seep into our bones, leaving many of us with aching backs and knees. But this year is different. Our rooms are finally a sanctuary of warmth. We burn less firewood and, most importantly, the health of our sisters has improved so much.”
Thank you to all the donors and supporters for making this project possible and successful!
An archival photo of the nuns shovelling a path around the nunnery. Winters in the Spiti Valley can be very severe with temperatures dropping as low as -22ºF or -30ºC.
