Tengboche lies in the Khumbu Pasang Lhambu rural municipality of the Khumbu region. It is home to the Tengboche Monastery, the largest gompa in the area.
The village offers panoramic views of Mount Everest, the world’s highest mountain, and surrounding peaks like Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, Tawache, and Thamserku.
Verdant rhododendrons and a monastery surround the beautiful Tengboche village. It is a popular stopover during the Everest Base Camp Trek and other trekking destinations in the Everest region. En route to the village from Lukla, you will follow the Dudh Koshi River and pass by popular villages like Phakding and Namche Bazaar. Likewise, you will trek through dense woodlands, suspension bridges, and Sagarmatha National Park.
The monastery is popular for its grandness and religious and cultural significance. Tengboche Monastery hosts the Mani Rimdu festival, a traditional Buddhist festival held every October or November. Thousands of trekkers visit the monastery every year. Let’s explore Tengboche in intricate detail!
Tengboche Monastery History
The Tengboche Monastery sits at an altitude of 3867 meters. Also known as Dawa Choling Gompa, the Tibetan Buddhist Monastery is the largest monastery in the Everest region. The Sagarmatha National Park surrounds the monastery, offering a panoramic view of stunning Mount Everest and other peaks. It has become one of the major tourist attractions in the region.
The history of Tengboche Monastery dates back to the early 20th century. Lama Gulu built the monastery in 1916. It is linked to the Rongbuk Monastery in Tibet, which is considered the mother monastery. Tengoche Monastery is the first celibate monastery under the Nyingmapa lineage of Vajrayana Buddhism.
The sacred monastery was destroyed by an earthquake in 1934. It was rebuilt but again destroyed by fire a second time in 1989. Volunteers and foreign aids played an important role to re-established the monastery to its former self. Hundreds of monks call the monastery their home at present.
Tengboche Monastery is located on the ridge above the Dudh Koshi River in Tengboche village. The scenic journey to Tengboche includes a steep trail through dense forests of rhododendrons and several suspension bridges. The trek passes several picturesque villages, such as Phakding and Namche Bazaar. Tengboche is a popular stop for trekkers exploring the Khumbu region of Nepal or climbers of Mount Everest.
It takes around three days to trek to Tengboche Monastery from Lukla. However, the Monastery is at a comparatively high altitude, so trekkers should acclimate before ascending. Tengboche is a central getaway to Everest Base Camp and Everest Expeditions. The route to the village follows the trail to the base camp.
The climate and temperature of Tengboche can vary depending on the altitude and season. It can range from temperate to arctic, but the monastery usually experiences cold temperatures. The warmest month of the year in Tengboche is July. The average temperature range is around 10 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, the coldest month is January, with average temperature ranging to -2.2 degrees Celsius. The Average temperature is 40.6 degrees Celsius.
| Season | Temperature |
| Spring | 5 to 15 degrees Celsius |
| Summer | 10 to 20 degrees Celsius |
| Autumn | 5 to 15 degrees Celsius |
| Winter | 10 to -10 degrees Celsius |
Due to clear weather and warm temperatures, spring and autumn are best for trekking to Tengboche. However, the weather is unpredictable at higher elevations, so always check the weather forecast before embarking on the journey. Also, carry proper clothing and equipment for more comfortable trekking.
Culture and Tradition
Tibetan Buddhism greatly influences Tengboche. Around 350 years ago, the Khumbu Valley came under the region’s influence. Ancient Tibetan scriptures refer to the valley as a sacred site along with the Rowlang and Khanbalung Valleys. Similarly, the locals are the descendants of the Sherpas who migrated from Tibet around six hundred years ago.
Tibetan Buddhism, also known as Vajrayana Buddhism, is practiced in Tibet and the Himalayan regions of Nepal. It incorporates elements of Indian Buddhism, Tibet’s indigenous religion, and Tibetan culture. Chinese and Mongolian Buddhism also influence it.
The followers of this religion believe in reincarnation, emphasize meditation, and strongly believe in developing personal relationships with the deities. The monastery is religious and culturally significant to the local Sherpas. Similarly, the Tengboche Monastery is an important Buddhist pilgrimage site for Buddhist people and Bodhisattvas.
The Tengboche monastery is a Tibetan Buddhist institution. Its layout is divided into the main hall, chapels, monk’s living quarters, and surrounding structures. The monastery has traditional Tibetan architecture, wood carvings, and ornate decorations. The walls are whitewashed and painted with colorful paintings. The roof represents Buddhist cosmology with gold finials and symbols.
Chortens and mani walls surround the Tengboche monastery’s premises. The chortens contain relics or sacred scriptures, while the mani walls are stone tablets inscribed with Buddhist mantras and prayers. The monastery incorporates the symbolic elements of Buddhist teachings and embodies Tibetan Buddhism’s rich heritage.
Mani Rimdu Festival
The Mani Rimdu Festival is an important festival for the Sherpas and highlights of eastern Nepal. The local celebrates the festival at Tengboche Monastery during the tenth lunar month of the Tibetan calendar, which falls in October or November of the Gregorian calendar. The festival is a tradition passed from the Rongbuk Monastery, Tibet.
Mani Rimdu is made of two words: Mani and Rimdu. Mani refers to the part of the chant of Chenrezig, and Rimdu refers to small red pills blessed during the festival. During the festival, the red pills are blessed repeatedly and distributed to the attendees. The festival lasts for 19 days, during which visitors can witness the rich culture of the Sherpa people.
The festival comprises three main phases that have spiritual meaning. They are:
Wong (Empowerment): This is the first phase of the festival. The Rinpoche, or head lama, blesses and empowers the attendees. During this phase, ritual purifications and offerings of a sacred thread occur. It is believed that this nurtures a strong connection with the deities and receives protection from them.
Cham (Masked Dance): The second phase of the festival involves elaborate masked dances performed by the monks. The dances portray the folklore with deities, demons, and other mythical beasts. It is believed that Cham exorcises the negative energies and promotes spiritual growth.
Jinsak (Fire Puja and Rituals): This is the final phase of the festival, during which the monks perform various rituals and fire puja. The ritual is accompanied by prayers and offerings. The ceremony seeks the deities’ blessings and symbolizes the destruction of negative forces and ignorance.
The vibrant costumes, masks, dance, and music make the Mani Rimdu festival a visually and spiritually alluring experience. The Sherpa community takes great cultural pride in this festival and celebrates it with devotion and unity. This rich and colorful festival has garnered attention from visitors worldwide.
How to get to Tengboche from Kathmandu?
To access Tengboche from Kathmandu, you must fly from Kathmandu to Lukla. The scenic flight takes 30 to 45 minutes. Once you reach Lukla, your trekking will begin. After 4 to 5 hours of trekking to the north, you will first reach Phakding.
From Phadkding, you will head toward Namche Bazaar, a famous trading hub in the Everest region. The trail from Namche requires crossing several bridges and ascending toward the forests of rhododendrons and conifers. After five to six hours of trekking, you will reach Tengboche Monastery.
Tengboche to Namche Bazaar
The distance between Tengboche and Namche Bazaar is 9.2 km. It takes 5 to 6 hours of trekking to reach Tengboche, at an elevation of 3867 meters, while Namche is at 3440 meters. As you can see, the elevations of both places differ by 420 meters.
The trail connecting Namche with Tengboche village passes through dense woodland and several suspension bridges. Along the way, you will pass small settlements like Phunki, Thenga, Sanasa, and others. Likewise, the mountain views will keep you company during the trek.
