Tsum Valley, Nepal

Tsum Valley is a landscape shaped by faith, tradition, and long-standing ways of life — a culturally distinct valley in the Nepal Himalaya. High in the upper Budhi Gandaki region, it has remained largely beyond the reach of roads and modern infrastructure. Ritual, seasonal work, and ties to land and religion continue to shape the character of its communities. Often described as a beyul — a hidden valley blessed by Buddhist masters — Tsum’s spiritual tradition is visible in its monasteries, villages, and family homes.

Since 2022, Steve Fagan and Chadani Lama have spent extended time in Tsum, staying with local families and observing the region from within. They have sat with monks and nuns during prayer and chanting, shared meals with families, visited schools and health posts, and spent time in fields, courtyards, and gathering places. Through these experiences, they have witnessed both the beauty of Tsum’s people, landscape, and religious traditions, and the realities of poverty, isolation, and limited access to education and healthcare.

The Tsum Valley Project documents the region through close engagement and sustained observation. Through photography and storytelling, it focuses on moments, relationships, and the ways culture and tradition are carried through everyday experience.

Any profit generated through this project, including from the book The Valley Knows Her Name, supports the education of children from Tsum Valley. That commitment has grown from relationships in the valley and reflects a responsibility to the people who have welcomed the work.