Prayers and Reflections from Nepal’s Rolwaling Valley | Trek to Tsho Rolpa

I recently returned from a breathtaking yet spiritually heavy journey through the Rolwaling Valley of Nepal — a remote Himalayan region where beauty and brokenness coexist in profound contrast. Over the course of a 45-mile round trip hike from the village of Simi Gaun to the glacial Tsho Rolpa Lake and back, I encountered some of the most stunning landscapes I’ve ever seen. And some of the deepest spiritual darkness I’ve ever felt.

Here are three reflections from that journey, both physical and spiritual.

1. Beauty Veiled in Darkness

The Rolwaling Valley is stunning. Towering snow-capped peaks rise above glacial rivers, suspension bridges sway over rocky gorges, and peaceful villages rest in the shadows of ancient hills.

One of the most memorable aspects of the journey through Rolwaling Valley was the warm and genuine hospitality of the local people. Despite living in remote mountain villages with limited resources, the tea house hosts welcomed us with kindness, hot meals, and heartfelt smiles. Each stop along the trail felt like coming home, where strangers became friends over cups of ginger tea and plates of steaming dal bhat. Their generosity, humility, and servant-hearted spirit left a lasting impression, reminding us that even in the most rugged places, the love of neighbor is a language that speaks loud and clear.

But amidst that beauty, a veil of spiritual lostness lingers. The region is steeped in a works-based religion, Tibetan Buddhism, where salvation is sought through ritual, merit, and endless striving.

All along the trail, I passed mani walls – long stone structures stacked with engraved prayer stones. Each stone is inscribed with the mantra “Om Mani Padme Hum,” believed to bring peace and compassion. Locals walk clockwise around these walls as an act of devotion. The commitment is real. The effort is admirable. But the peace they seek is elusive because it’s rooted in human effort rather than divine grace.

“They are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge.” – Romans 10:2

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not a result of works.” – Ephesians 2:8-9

2. Prayerful Encounters

At each mani wall, every fluttering prayer flag, and every prayer wheel, my heart was stirred. These were not just cultural artifacts; they were monuments to spiritual searching. So we prayed. We prayed for the people of the valley, for eyes to be opened, for hearts to find rest, and for the true light of Christ to shine in a place shadowed by centuries of spiritual blindness.

“The god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers… but God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ has shone in our hearts…” – 2 Corinthians 4:4,6

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” – John 1:5

We were reminded of a profound truth: they must hear in order to believe. No matter how sincere or committed someone is to a religious system, salvation only comes through hearing and believing the gospel.

“How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?” – Romans 10:14

At the lake, our prayers echoed off the mountains, a spiritual cry for a land bound by tradition but devoid of grace. We prayed for spiritual victory, not through might, nor ritual, but by the Spirit of the living God.

3. Victory Through Grace

The physical trek was grueling. Climbing uphill at high elevation, often above 12,000 feet, meant each step was harder than the last. The air grew thinner, our legs heavier, and progress slower. Even the well-trained feel the effects of altitude, and we were constantly reminded of our physical limits.

Staying warm in the Himalayas was all about mastering your layers. In the early mornings, we’d start the hike bundled in fleece jackets and windproof shells to fight off the chill. But as the sun rose and the trail climbed, our bodies warmed quickly, and we’d begin peeling off layers one by one. The rhythm of hiking in elevation meant constant adjustment, zipping, unzipping, removing a layer, then adding it back at the next windy ridge or shaded pass. Layering wasn’t just about comfort. It was a vital strategy for regulating body temperature and staying dry in a climate that shifted as often as the terrain beneath our feet.

Yet scattered along the trail were tea houses, simple mountain lodges that offered warm meals, hot tea, and a place to rest. These tea houses became more than just shelters. They were small sanctuaries of restoration. Dal Bhat (a traditional Nepali lentil and rice dish) was our go-to fuel. Hot ginger tea gave life to cold fingers. It was a rhythm of perseverance and pause.

Still, the true weight we witnessed wasn’t the climb. It was the spiritual burden so many carry in this land of devotion. Salvation here feels like something to be earned one ritual at a time. But we know salvation isn’t earned it’s given.

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” – Matthew 11:28

“Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” – 1 Corinthians 15:57

We returned from Rolwaling with sore legs, full hearts, and a fresh burden to keep praying. Even in the highest places on earth, the gospel is still the greatest need.

To sum it up…

Hiking through Rolwaling Valley was more than a physical adventure. This is a reminder of the gospel’s power. A confrontation with the futility of man-made religion. And a call to pray bold prayers over places still waiting for the good news of grace.

They must hear. They must be told. And we must go or send those who will.

At 15,000 feet, the light of Christ shines bright. May it pierce through stone and ritual and bring freedom to those who walk in darkness.

“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light…” – Isaiah 9:2