Eighteen participants from nearby Kaski villages were recruited and participated in a three-day training program introducing them to TMLC’s exhibits and the centre’s objectives. Hari Singh Gurung, an inspiring trainer, guided them through various topics, offering insights from both national and local perspectives. During interactive sessions in the museum, participants engaged in lively discussions and eagerly contributed their personal knowledge about the objects on display. Everyone walked away having learned something new.
On the second day, the group explored the TMLC Culture and Nature Trail, led by guide Arild Endal. Along the way, the participants’ local knowledge and comments greatly enhanced the experience for museum staff as well as motivators. We are excited to continue supporting this growing network of local motivators as we work together to welcome more visitors to the Tamagi Museum and Learning Centre Centre.
Tamagi Museum and Learning Centre recently completed a busy three-day outreach tour, visiting seven schools across the Kaski area: Shree Pragatisheel Secondary School, Shree Siddhabarha Higher Secondary School (Badhaure, Thulakhet), Shree Harpankot Higher Secondary School, Shree Janasiddha Basic School, Machhapuchhare Secondary School (Dhikur Pokhari), and Shree Dharapani Secondary School.
The goal of the tour was to inform teachers and school administrators about the opportunities for school classes to visit the museum. TMLC staff had productive conversations and are now looking forward to welcoming students and their teachers more frequently. Tamagi Museum and Learning Centre is specifically dedicated to engaging the younger generation in learning about their local nature, culture, history, and traditional crafts. We are pleased to share that the schools have committed to including museum visits in their annual academic programs.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony carried out by The Hon. Dupseng Rinpoche marked the official opening of TMLC.
Tamagi Museum and Learning Centre was officially opened on March 1st, 2025, in the village of Tamagi in Kaski, Nepal. More than 250 persons from surrounding communities, Pokhara, Kathmandu, the UK, USA, and Norway found their way to the Inauguration Ceremony. The ceremonial day started with Puja at the Enlightenment Stupa in the village led by The Hon. Dupseng Rinpoche from a Buddhist monastery. After the ribbon-cutting and formal opening of the museum, a ceremony with speeches, gifts, and public recognition of the support and generous contributions that have transformed the museum from a vision to reality was followed by a vegetarian lunch served by the Mothers Group of Talibarang (Deurali), dance, musical entertainment and other festivities.
For all inquiries regarding opening hours, transportation, guided tours along the Culture and Nature Trail, agricultural terraces and the main museum, feel free to email local TMLC staff in Tamagi at info@tamagicentre.org. You are also welcome to join our Facebook community – Tamagi Museum and Learning Centre – for regular updates and announcements.
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Tamagi Museum and Learning Centre (TMLC) is gearing up for its ceremonial opening set for Falgun 17, 2081 (March 1, 2025). Our Founder and Chairperson, Mr. Hem Bahadur Gurung, recently arrived from Norway, has been joined in Tamagi by Mr. Sundar Gurung (TMLC SC Member) for this event. The Enlightenment Stupa has been repainted, the stage (Manch) for opening ceremonies is currently under construction, and various other preparations are proceeding on schedule.
The opening ceremony will be attended by guests from the local community as well as visitors arriving in Tamagi for the one-day event. The Hon. Dupseng Rinpoche has accepted an invitation to attend the ceremonies as Chief Guest and agreed to perform a Buddhist Darshan Puja for the Enlightenment Stupa of Tamagi. Friends and supporters from Norway are also scheduled to arrive in Tamagi for the opening and will extend their visit in order to continue their work on TMLC’s exhibits and services.
The first part of the programme – a Puja at the Enlightenment Stupa starting at 08.00 and ending around 11.30 – will be followed by the official inauguration and opening of TMLC at 12.45. All invited guests and visitors will be served breakfast and a vegetarian lunch in the TMLC Chautari on museum grounds. Mothers Group of Talibarang (Deurali) will be responsible for the preparation and distribution of breakfast and lunch at this event.
A ceremonial ribbon cutting by the Chief Guest followed by socializing and entertainment provided by Panche baaja, a local orchestra, will conclude this festive occasion. TMLC staff, management and supporters are eager to welcome guests on Falgun 17, and look forward to opening museum doors to visitors (young and old) curious about their cultural identity for years to come. You are cordially invited to take part in the festivities and support the work of the Tamagi Museum and Learning Research Trust!
We are pleased to announce that the much-awaited ceremonial opening of Tamagi Museum and Learning Centre is scheduled for Saturday, March 1, 2025 (Falgun 17). The tentative program for the event will be as follows:
06.00 – 11.30 Buddhist Puja at the Enlightenment Stupa in Tamagi 12.30 – 15.00 Museum opening with entertainment and various events
A vegetarian lunch will be served to all visitors in the TMLC Chautari. Due to short notice, international guests have not received invitations for this event.
On Saturday, Dec 1st 2024, the Mayor of Pokhara Municipality, Mr. Dhan Raj Acharya, accompanied by 23rd Ward Chair, Mr. Ram Kaji Gurung, and team members set aside time for a visit to Tamagi Museum Learning Centre( TMLC). Museum staff member Nirdesh Gurung received the group and guided them through the museum’s indoor exhibits, focusing on Tamagi’s rich Gurkha heritage and local culture. Unfortunately, the Mayor’s team did not have time to experience and enjoy TMLC’s popular Culture, Nature Trail (CNT).
The civil servants expressed interest and were impressed by the museum’s themes and displays. Both district and community leaders shared their thoughts on institutional support to promote the museum, for example by locating information boards at checkpoints such as Kaande, Thulakhet, Bhadaure/Deurali, and other strategic locations. The Municipalities could contribute by bearing the cost of such sign boards.
We are thrilled to announce the trial opening of the Tamagi Museum and Learning Centre from September 1st, 2024! The official opening has been scheduled for early 2025. Join us as we unveil a cultural landmark dedicated to exploring art, history, and innovation. Our state-of-the-art facility offers a dynamic space for exhibits, educational programs, and community engagement. Don’t miss out on the opening festivities, including guided tours, interactive workshops, and special guest presentations. Be part of the excitement and discover the rich tapestry of knowledge and creativity that awaits you at the Tamagi Museum and Learning Centre!.
Stay tuned for more details and follow us for updates!
The first Tamagi Museum Learning Research Trust Steering Committee meeting to be held at HQ in Tamagi.
On Friday, April 12th, 2024, a much-awaited Tamagi Museum Learning Research Trust Steering Committee meeting was held at HQ in Tamagi. After their arrival on the 10th, members participated in a guided tour of the Culture and Nature Trail (CNT) and museum on the 11th followed by the trust’s third Steering Committee meeting – the first to be convened in Tamagi – on the following day. The trust’s Founder and Chairperson, Mr. Hem Gurung, served as organizer and host for the Tamagi session.
A highlight of the event was a full day’s trekking on the Culture and Nature Trail along the well-maintained stone pathways, passing local shrines and sacred places, wild forests, and popular viewpoints, with occasional rest stops at numerous traditional Chautaris along the way. Trekking not only stimulated the senses and energized participants, but also served to unify committee members and enhanced their understanding of TMLRT’s foundational commitments and priorities. The invigorating guided tour along the CNT generated numerous ideas for future initiatives that were followed up during the committee meeting on the following day.
Steering Committee:
1. Hem Bahadur Gurung – Chairperson and Founder
2. Dr. Shailendra Bahadur Thakali, Vice-chairperson
3. Dan Bahadur Rawal – Secretary
4. Om Bahadur Gurung – Treasurer
5. Lok Bahadur Gurung – Joint Secretary
6. Dr. Sumitra Manandhar Gurung – Member
7. Sundar Gurung – Member
Other participants:
1. Ms. Ellen Width, Norway (on MS Team) – Advisor
2. Mr. Per Helmersen, Norway – Advisor
3. Mr. Arild Endal, Norway -Advisor
4. Nirdesh Gurung – Staff
5. Suraj Sunar – Staff
6. Prem lal Sunar – Staff
The Steering Committee meeting conducted in Nepali language covered issues on budget management, accounting, reporting to the government, task distribution among the committee members, and approval of advisory board members. A professional chartered accountant was invited to present basic guidelines covering finance management and reporting as stipulated by government authorities. The committee meeting was followed by informative English language presentations by Ms Ellen Width (live via Microsoft Teams from her home in Norway) updating committee members on operational aspects and future requirements of TMLC, Mr Arild Endal describing current upgrades along the CNT and agricultural terraces and Mr Per Helmersen presenting potential application areas linked to the WorldLink fiber network recently installed in Tamagi. NG/HG
The Tamagi Culture and Nature Trail (CNT) was established in 2023 in the hills above Tamagi extending up to Koefera Thana. The names of places of interest along the trail have been marked with standard format signs identifying them as stops along the CNT. Each sign includes a unique QR code linked to information about the site instantly accessible via mobile phones or (if stored) remotely via web browsers. Initially, the sites included Baharana Thana, Mroje, Chesyhne, Naiche, Devi Thana, Koefera Thana, Kol Jumsame and Khogyu. A sign has also been erected at Tigyu.
Recently the trail has been extended to include additional places with similar signage. New sites include Kula Kya, Tamaginasa, Rhiteba, Lisadhu, Chaudhukhola, Phyagyu, Mujadanda, and Kyumola. Sites as well as the trail have been cleared of vegetation. A revised map of the trail including these new sites will soon be issued. AE
The fiber network extending past the Enlightenment Stupa and up to its current endpoint, the Tamagi Museum and Learning Centre.
More good news from Tamagi and TMLC… WorldLink’s optical fiber network has recently been extended up to Tamagi and inclusion in the national power grid is rumoured to be around the corner (meters have already been supplied to the museum). Solar power will be a useful and affordable backup solution, but we will no longer be 100% dependent on it. TMLC and Tamagi are now linked to the outside world, and, significantly, the entire planet is connected to Tamagi. TMLC will utilize this network to extend the reach of our services while monitoring the overall impact it has on Tamagi village as a whole*. TMLC’s resources including databases, real-time participation in demonstrations, festivals and other special events available around the globe as well as facilities for academics visiting or carrying out research in Tamagi and surroundings (e.g. seminars, workshops, consulting with colleagues) will be available 24/7. TMLC’s administrative procedures will also benefit. Remote monitoring and consulting with local staff have now been implemented. The Microsoft Teams mediated presentation by Ellen Width, currently in Norway, illustrates the potential of online meetings. PH
Microsoft Teams meeting hosted by Hem Gurung in Tamagi with participation from Kathmandu and Norway.
* The impact this infrastructure (in addition to ongoing road expansion) will have on Tamagi’s ‘rebirth’ remains to be seen, so if you or someone you know would consider documenting the process in the form of a thesis or dissertation, we can offer a local research platform to get them started. If interested, contact us at info@tamagicentre.org.
Establishing TMLC as a Trust within the Nepali legal system has been a priority for some time. A trust – referred to as a Guthi in the Nepali system – provides legal protection for the trustor’s assets and ensures that they are distributed in accordance with his/her intentions and expressed wishes. After an extended (and at times frustrating) process, TMLC has been granted this legal status under Nepali law and registered in the Land Revenue Office of Kaski (Kaski Maalpot Karyalaya) – a unique accomplishment for this type of institution, we have been told. With the assistance of a legal adviser and Nepali civil society experts, an application process was initiated by TMLC founder and the Trust’s newly appointed Chairperson, Hem Gurung, in October 2023 and successfully completed in January the following year.
The TMLC Steering Committee(from left to right on photo): Mr. Lok B. Gurung (Joint Secretary/Saha sachib), Mr. Dan B. Rawal (Secretary/Sachib), Mr. Sundar Gurung (Member/Sadasya), Mr. Hem B. Gurung (Chairperson), Dr. Sumitra M. Gurung (Member/Sadasya), Dr. Shailendra Thakali (Vice Chairperson) and Mr. Om B. Gurung (Treasurer/Koshyadhachhe).
The legal name of the TMLC Trust shall be Tamagi Museum Learning Research Trust – in Nepali Tamagi Sangrahalaya Adhyan Anushandhan Guthi. The Trust’s main office will be in Pokhara Municipality Ward nr. 23, Tamagi in the Kaski District of Nepal. The Guthi’s assets include three recently-erected buildings and one ropani 13 Ana land as the property. In addition to existing infrastructure, the Guthi also has a Rs 5 lakh initial deposit in its Ahhcya Kos account to cover future expenses.
Guthi certification handed over to Mr. Rawal at the Land Revenue Office of Kaski. Appropriately, in addition to Rawal, Om and Sundar future generations were also represented at this event.
As specified in its terms of reference, the Guthi will have a Steering Committee consisting of seven members (see above photo) and a advisory board made up of 11 members with three positions allocated for international resource persons or institutions. The advisory board will be finalised in the immediate future. The fist physical meeting of the Steering Committee was held in Kimdole, Kathmandu.
The first meeting of the Steering Committee around Sumitra’s dining room table in Kimdole, Kathmandu.
In addition to signatures, thumbprints on documents are required and Sumitra’s right thumb makes it official! When the remaining Steering Committee members perform the same ritual, TMLC (or Tamagi Museum Learning Research Trust, to use its registered name) is officially a Guthi.
Sundar, Vice-Wardleader, Hem, Rawal and Chakrapani at Pokhara Municipality, Ward nr 23. This is the first step of the Guthi legal registration process where receiving the Ward’s recommendation is required in order to proceed.
Students from Machhapuchhere Secondary School being introduced to backstrap weaving – a traditional Gurung technique where the warp is attached in one end to a weaver and in the other to a stationary object like the fence in the TMLC cafe.
Our main objective during the last two weeks has been gaining a better understanding of how the museum’s offerings (incl. displays related to our three central themes, CNT sites and demonstrations of traditional handicrafts) are received by visitors. Two school groups from Badahaure Secondary School and Machhapuchhere Secondary School as well as a larger mixed group of local villagers have enthusiastically shared their reactions in day-long sessions with museum staff. Ellen Width captured their comments (through a translator) and will adjust and supplement TMLC’s displays accordingly. Apart form their positive feedback, their suggestions will greatly enhance both relevance and accuracy of the TMLC’s displays. We gratefully acknowledge their contributions.
Secondary school students spent 2 to 3 hours on the TMLC Culture and Nature Trail, exploring shrines, the mustard mill and other sites reflecting Tamagi’s rich cultural heritage. Here a group of students from Machhapuchhere Secondary gets an update on Devi Thana from Narendra Lama. The blood in the foreground is from recently sacrificed female goats.
For trekkers and other unaccompanied persons passing by, all stops along the Culture and Nature Trail have now been marked with names in Nepali and Gurung as well as unique QR-codes that provide some basic information in Nepali and English for the benefit of anyone carrying a smartphone with a code reader. Try it out!
In preparation for the monsoon, museum objects have been securely packed for storage, protected from moisture and insects that can destroy these valuable links to Tamagi’s past. The time-consuming process of cataloging and marking these items has also been set in motion. Each item on display has been photographed and all relevant information stored in digital format. This process will continue as new items are added to collections.
Finally, a Facebook group has been set up for TMLC (Tamagi Museum and Learning Centre), intended not as a replacement for this web site, but rather a supplement providing more frequent updates on TMLC events as well as an informal and more accessible channel for visitors’ comments and suggestions. Please follow it on your FB account.
After a guided tour, over 20 residents from Tamagi and neighboring villages were eager to share their first impressions of TMLC and provide Ellen with additional input on Gurung domestic lifestyles in the past and present – also pointing out some omissions and mistakes that will be rectified prior to the November opening.
Bamboo fencing encloses the TMLC Farming Terraces as protection against grazing buffalo. In the background, Annapurna South (7,219 meters) in the middle and Machhapuchhre or ‘Fishtail’ (6,993 meters) far right. A small stupa is located in the upper left-hand corner.
Three of the four members of the Norwegian Team – Hem, Ellen and Arild – arrived in March to pick up where they left off in November last year. The fourth member, Per, followed in April. In their absence, Narendra and Krishna Maya have moved ahead with the aid of local residents and laborers. Significantly, the face of the once virtually abandoned village is changing rapidly as former residents and curious visitors from Nepal and abroad are making the journey to Tamagi along greatly improved access roads. Major accomplishments since our last visit are listed below. As always, your comments and suggestions are welcome!
Tamagi is gradually being ‘upgraded’ to serve the needs of existing and future residents as new roads are carved out of the rugged terrain and existing roads are improved. Local government authorities are currently constructing a new road passing by Tamagi just below the museum site, terminating in the neighboring village Bhadaure (only 500 meters remain). Newly erected metal power poles passing through Tamagi will soon reconnect the village to the national power grid, making the solar panels and diesel generators obsolete or backup solutions. Having been ‘powerless’ for seven years, full- and part-time residents are eagerly placing their orders for electricity meters in preparation. Local government is also erecting an observation tower at Chyasineh, one of the stops along TMLC’s Culture and Nature Trail (CNT – see below).
TMLC facilities including the recently completed office annex. Note the metal electricity poles that will soon re-link Tamagi and TMLC to the national power grid.
Inspired by initiatives such as TMLC and activities described above, former residents are gradually reconnecting with and rediscovering Tamagi. One resident has opened the Tamagi Homestay for visitors and and temporary housing for others currently restoring their homes, another with family ties to Tamagi has returned from Hong Kong to build a new house in the village. We anticipate that this is just the start of Tamagi’s rebirth as a thriving community in the foothills of Panchase.
The TMLC Culture and Nature Trail takes visitors on a journey into Tamagi’s past, highlighting sites with religious and cultural significance as well as locations that contributed to the local food supply.
TMLC staff have recently completed a Culture & Nature Trail (CNT) allowing visitors to experience not only the museums’s indoor displays and demonstrations, but also encouraging them to visit local vistas up to 2065 meters or sites of historical significance (initially 10 but more have been proposed) surrounding the museum. Guiding and signage will be in English and Nepali. The second major outside attraction will be four farming terraces, easily accessible 100 meters from the main museum building, where traditional agricultural practices will be demonstrated. Finally, separate housing for TMLC staff without local accommodations has been completed.
Residents of Tamagi and neighboring villages have generously agreed to demonstrate traditional handicrafts at TMLC. This woman – literally strapped into her loom – demonstrates her expertise for our benefit initially, but will share with visitors when the museum opens in November.
In the coming weeks the focus shifts to design of the actual displays in the museum and to demonstrations of traditional handicrafts visitors will enjoy in the TMLC cafe. Stay tuned for updates as we approach the scheduled museum opening in November!
