Tengboche Monastery is one of the most famous in all of Nepal, in part because of its unrivaled backdrop of the stunning Mount Ama Dablam.??Located atop a 12,000-foot high plateau on the far side of the Imja Khola River, Tengboche is a popular place to spend the night on a Khumbu trek, second only to Namche Bazaar. Its world-famous monastery is perched on a high ridge across the canyon from Khunde.
The most well-known Buddhist center in the entire Khumbu region, the monastery is home to a Rinpoche (Tibetan for “precious one”), a highly respected Buddhist leader who blesses those who visits Tengboche, everyone from wide-eyed trekkers to world-famous mountain climbers.??Although the Buddhist monastery burned down in a tragic fire back in 1989, it was rebuilt with a more solid ??? but no less historic ??? structure.
Every autumn, Tengboche Monastery hosts the colorful Mani Rimdu the most important festival of the Sherpa people. The lively 19-day event includes singing, dancing and re-enactments of important Buddhist legends. Visitors are always welcome to partake in the festivities. Tours of the spectacular monastery are conducted every afternoon, and those who wish to rise early are encouraged to experience a Buddhist religious service, an unforgettable event and a highlight of the entire trek.
Pines, azaleas and colorful mountain rhododendrons surround the Tenbouche Monestary. The surrounding campsite, lodging rooms and bakery offer stunning views of Mt. Everest, Lhotse and Ama Dablam. Trekkers can photograph the colorful Buddhist center, turn 90 degrees to the right, and then photograph the summit of Mt. Everest, 17,000 feet higher in the far distance. Another quick turn reveals the much-closer Ama Dablam, a close neighbor of Tengbouche.
From Tengboche, trekkers continue on to villages such as Pangbouche, Pheriche and Dingbouche, where the lush vegetation gives way to the stark beauty of rock and ice. Further along the trail is Gorak Shep, where trekkers prepare to visit nearby Everest Base Camp, and Kala Pattar, the high point of the trip at 5,545 meters (18,500 feet). The top of Kala Pattar furnishes a spectacular 360-degree amphitheater of some of the highest mountains on the planet, including top of the world, Mt. Everest.
