Tengboche Monastery
Tengboche is one of the most popular villages in the Himalayas of Eastern Nepal, situated in Khumbu valley. Located at an altitude of 3,867 m, the star attraction of the village is Tengboche Monastery, the largest gompa in the Khumbu region. The monastery is for Buddhists and was first built in 1923. The old monastery was demolished by the fire of 1989, and again later was built under the help of volunteers and the provision of foreign aid.
The best part of the monastery is the panoramic view of the Himalayas that are well known as Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, Tawache, Thamserku, Tenzing Norgay, etc. Another fascinating thing about the village is that the first climber of Mount Everest – Sir Edmund Hillary was born in Thani village and raised to be a Monk in Tengboche Monastery.
Khumbu Valley has been dominated by Buddhism for 350 years now. Tengboche Monastery, also known as Dawa Choling Gompa, blesses pilgrims and travelers in the area. Constructed by Lama Gulu, the monastery is the first celibate monastery under the Nyingmapa lineage of Vajrayana Buddhism. Hope to more than sixty monks. The monastery is visited for blessings from the lama and witness special chanting.
Having a unique backdrop of Mount Ama Dablam, the monastery is famous for the colorful Mani Rimdu festival, a culmination of Buddhist celebrations that takes place every year in October. The festival is full of religious gatherings, songs, ritual dances, and enactments of the lives of legendary figures. Many trekkers make their journey to Khumbu by coinciding with the festival to attend it.
The area around the monastery is full of colorful rhododendrons, pines, and azaleas. There are several rest houses and lodges for the trekkers and visitors along with camping sites. The ethnic group that dominates the area is Sherpa, famous for their trekking abilities and rescuing the trekkers up the mountains like Everest, Ama Dablam, etc.
Located on a hill, at the confluence of Dudh Koshi and Imja Khola, the village is a popular touristic destination for pilgrims and trekkers from all over the world.