From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A view of Tengboche with Lhotse and Everest in the background. A portion of Ama Dablam appears in the upper right.

Tengboche (or Thyangboche) is a village in Khumjung in the Khumbu region of eastern Nepal, located at 3,867 metres (12,687 ft). In the village is an important Buddhist monastery, the largest gompa in the Khumbu region. The structure was built in 1923. In 1934, it was destroyed by an earthquake but subsequently rebuilt. It was destroyed again by a fire in 1989, and again rebuilt with the help of volunteers and the provision of foreign aid. Thyangboche has a panoramic view of the Himalayan mountains, including the well known peaks of Tawache, Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, and Thamserku.

English adventurer Charlie Boorman and Peter Hillary, son of the Edmund Hillary visited the village in 2008. The footage was shown in Boorman's series By Any Means.

Monks enjoying Tea during Mani Rimdu Festival with Mount Khumbila in the background

Mani Rimdu Festival

The most important festival to the Sherpa people is the festival of Mani Rimdu. Usually taking place in late October during the height of the Autumnal trekking season, the festival consists of nine days of ceremonies and meditation (Drupchen). This is concluded by a special blessing ceremony given by resident Rinpoche to the general public followed by the world renowned Mask Dances performed by the monks.

Tengboche

Location in Nepal

External links

• Official site
• Nepal Himalayas
• Tengboche on the Everest Trek
• The Buddhist Dance Drama of Tengboche

Solukhumbu District Capital: Salleri Bafa, Baku, Basa, Beni, Bhakanje, Bung, Chaulakharka, Chaurikharka, Chheskam, Deusa, Garma, Goli, Gorakhani, Gudel, Jubing, Jubu, Kaku, Kangel ,Kerung ,Khumjung, Loding Tamakhani, Lokhim, Mabe,Mukali, Namche, Necha Batase, Necha Bedghari, Nele, Panchan, Salyan, Sautang, Takasindu, Tapting, Tingla

Coordinates: 27°50′01.90″N 86°41′59.85″E / 27.833861°N 86.6999583°E / 27.833861; 86.6999583

From Wikitravel

Tengboche (3870m) is the name of a large monastery and the surrounding settlement. It is located in Khumbu.

• Tengboche [1] is the largest Sherpa monastery in the Khumbu area and exerts the greatest influence.

Get in

on foot - a good 6 or 7 hour hike from Namche

Get around

on foot

• The monastery - You may join the ceremonies, but filming or photographing is only permitted after receiving special permission to do so. Audience with the head rinpoche (abbot) can also be arranged, and these meetings are generally held in the morning. The ceremonies begin at 5AM - though check before attending as the times change according to the season
• The Eco-center located outside the main monastery gate. The center offers a permanent exhibition of Sherpa culture, a gift shop, and a small cinema (a film on Sherpa culture and Tengboche Monastery is shown every half hour).
• Tengboche might be the first place on your trek that you have a clear view of Mount Everest. Ask one of the locals to point it out to you. Spectacular views of Ama Dablam, Thamserku and Kongde Ri.

Do

Every October or November, Tengboche holds the famous Mani Rimdu festival that consists of nineteen day's of meditation, ceremonies of "pujas" and culminates with a blessing ceremony and spectacular mask dances. The main events for outsiders are the last days which will be as follow scheduled for 2009:

• 16 NOV: Wong (blessing ceremony for the general public)
• 17 NOV: Mask Dances - open to the public from 10AM to 5PM. Traditional dancing by the Sherpa community continues throughout the night.
• 18 NOV: Fire puja.

Please note that the festival dates might be changed by the monastery, by mid-year Tengboche monastery officially publishes the dates on their website.

Buy

There are no stores in the village, but the lodges keep a stock of necessities, such as camera film, batteries, throat lozengers, bandages etc - but remember that price rising with altitude, so expect to pay more than in Namche.

Eat

There is a bakery outside the monastery gate that serves pizza and coffee - it claims to be the highest bakery in the world, and at nearly 4,000m it is easy to believe.

Sleep

There are four lodges in the field in front of the monastery. The quality and price is about the same.