Tengboche Monastery (Tengboche Gumba)

Located at an altitude of 3,867 meters in the Khumbu region of Solukhumbu district, Tengboche Monastery (Dawa Choling Gomba) is the largest and most famous Buddhist monastery in the Everest region. It is not only the spiritual and cultural center of the Sherpa community but also a sacred place for mountaineers to receive blessings.

History and Renaissance

The establishment of this monastery was done in 1916 by Lama Gulu (Nawang Tenzin Norbu). It is believed to have been established as a branch of the Rongbuk Monastery in Tibet. In its history, this monastery has faced two major disasters:

• The grand earthquake of 1934 destroyed the monastery.
• In 1989, a massive fire caused by an electric short circuit completely destroyed the valuable religious materials and structure of the monastery. It was rebuilt to its former glory with the help of the local Sherpa community, Sir Edmund Hillary's 'Himalayan Trust', and international support.

Architecture and Artworks

Tengboche Monastery is built in the traditional Tibetan architectural style. In the main prayer hall (Dohang) of the monastery, there is a massive and attractive statue of Shakyamuni Buddha, with statues of Manjushri and Maitreya Buddha on its left and right. The walls of the monastery are decorated with colorful murals and Thangkas of the life of Buddha and various gods and goddesses. Around the monastery are prayer wheels and mani walls carved with the 'Om Mani Padme Hum' mantra.

Mani Rimdu Festival

This monastery is the main center of the Sherpa community's famous 'Mani Rimdu' festival. The main attraction of this jatra, which lasts for 19 days in the full moon of October or November, is the 'Cham' (Mask Dance). In this, lamas perform dances wearing special masks, which depict the victory of dharma over adharma and truth over falsehood. There is a large presence of tourists from all over the world and locals to watch this festival.

Cultural Importance

Located in the lap of mountain peaks like Mt. Everest (Chomolungma), Ama Dablam, and Thamserku, this monastery has played a major role in the protection of Sherpa culture. Here, young lamas are given education in ancient Buddhist philosophy and meditation.