Tengboche – Oldest Sherpa Village in Nepal

At an altitude of 3860 m, Tengboche Village is located in the Khumbu Region- the main route leading to the summit of Everest in the North East of Nepal. Trekkers and mountain climbing enthusiasts pass Tengboche with numerous hopes and ambitions.

The village is a historical site containing temples, stupas, and smaller Buddhist shrines dating back to 1880 or earlier. The Mani Wall, built of stone slabs with prayers and sacred texts, dates back to 1915. One of the two first climbers of Everest, Tenzing Norgay Sherpa, lived in the village of Tengboche at one time.

Tengboche has a permanent water supply system, a local sewerage system, and a mini-hydroelectric power station that provides the village with electricity. The village is also known for its alpine plantation of medicinal plants and its eco-center for tourism.

Many Himalayas peaks are visible here, including the highest ones: Everest, Taboche, Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, and Thamserku.

There is a Buddhist mountain monastery in Tengboche. Here, those who go up entrust their destinies to the Buddha and receive the blessings of the lamas. Here, those who go down thank the Buddha, fate, lamas, and everyone who can only be thanked for returning. In this sense, It is undoubtedly an existential place, historically and culturally significant.

Tengboche Monastery

Buddhism entered the Khumbu Valley, where Tengboche Monastery is located, about 350 years ago. The ancient Tibetan manuscripts speak of a lama named Sangwa Dorje, who possessed clairvoyance and excellent spiritual knowledge. He predicted the appearance of a monastery near the Tengboche Village – where he flew into a state of deep meditation and left a mark on the rock (you can see the imprint at the entrance to the temple).

The spiritual Guru Ngawang Tenzin Norbu, the fifth incarnation of Sangwa Dorje, founded the monastery in 1916.

The main building of the Tengboche monastery is a Dohang – a ritual hall on two floors with a giant statue of Buddha Shakyamuni. Next are statues of the bodhisattva Manjushri (the bodhisattva of wisdom) and Maitreya (the bodhisattva who will be born among people in the future and become a Buddha, and his arrival will mark the beginning of the golden age). Another important relic of the monastery is the handwritten texts of Kanjur, the teachings of the Buddha, translated into classical Tibetan.

The perimeter of the monastery’s territory is lined with ancient mani stones, the mantra “Om mani Padme hum” inscribed, and multi-colored prayer flags flutter over all this.

Trekkers go through the monastery to the southern Everest Base Camp, from where they already climb to the top through the Khumbu icefall and along the western ridge. Many climbers visit this monastery to light candles and get the gods’ blessing, who help them climb to the top and return safely and sound.

The best time to Visit Tengboche Village

The best time to visit the village of Tengboche falls in spring and autumn when the daytime temperature usually ranges around 14 to 16°C with clear visibility. The summer season usually accompanies higher humidity and rainfall, while in winter, you may face cold day temperatures between 4 and 6 degrees.

Main Attraction

Apart from the ancient and mythical Tengboche Monastery, the village also offers excellent views of Mount Everest, Ama Dablam, Nuptse, and more. The village community is also promoting eco-tourism to attract more tourists. Most Sherpa residents are turned into guest houses and lodges with tiny but comfortable tea houses where you can delight your taste buds with authentic Nepalese dishes.

Lukla to Tengboche

An unforgettable domestic flight with breathtaking views from Kathmandu will take you to Lukla. From Lukla, a short hike will take you to Namche Bazaar, the heart of the Everest Region. The trek then continues for 5 hours, passing through rhododendron forests to a beautiful yet small village of Monjo to Phortse, where you can submerge yourself in the Sherpa culture. You also have a fantastic view of the Ama Dablam.

The path continues along the Dudh Koshi River, crossing the river on a beautiful suspension bridge. Another five-hour hike, and you will reach the charming village.