• Trek
• Aug,17,2022
• Naveen Poudyal
• 1

One of Nepal's most remarkable treks is the Everest Base Camp Trek, which offers spectacular mountain views of the Mahalangur Himal sub-range (Amadablam, Everest, Lhotse, Cho Oyu, and Makalu) along with local Sherpa, Rai, and other cultural groups in the highlands. The most well-known mountaineers and trekkers in the world, the Sherpa, call the Everest region home. Another location and an important Buddhist cultural hub is the Tengboche monastery(3860m). Moreover, Tengboche is the highest monastery in Nepal and provides the best views of Mount Everest and the surrounding areas. The Sherpas on Everest are Buddhist. Tibetan Buddhism is what they still practice in the gumbas and monasteries. The stones are found with beautiful Tibetan writings (Buddhist prayers). Chortens and mani walls also reflect Sherpa and Buddhist culture. Prayer flags are engraved with six-syllable mantras like “Om mani Padme hum", which commonly means “The Jewel is in the lotus”. The way of life of the Sherpa people is one of the important things that the trekkers will experience in the remote and secluded region of Everest. Besides that, the trek will lead you through one of the highest national parks in the world (Sagarmatha National Park). The national park, situated at the highest elevation, has many things to mesmerize you. It consists of animals and plants like; Barking Deer, Musk Deer, Himalayan Thar, mountain goats, snow leopards, Himalayan monal (Danphe), rhododendron, alpine trees, river streams and waterfalls while on your journey. The routes to Gokyo Lake Valley, Everest Base Camp, and Mount Ama Dablam are different. The trekking route you choose leads to several Sherpa settlements where you can enjoy different tastes, buy handicrafts, and observe different celebrations and festivals. Sometimes, Saturday is special among the Sherpa community.

Everest Base Camp Trek Duration

The Everest cultural trek could extend up to 12-15 days. It generally begins on the day of your arrival in Kathmandu and your flight to Lukla (Tenzing Hilary airport) at 2810m. Your Lukla airport is the point from where your trek begins, and your first-day trek ends in Phakding (2640m) after 5-6 hours of walking. Further, it extends to Namche Bazzar (3440m), Theme (3800m), Khumjung (3790m), Tengboche (3867m), and back to Namche, Lukla, and finally Kathmandu. The maximum altitude you reach during the trek is 3867m above sea level, at Tengboche village. Moreover, this is a moderate-level trek to Everest.

Tengboche Monastery

The Tibetan Buddhist monastery (Tengboche Monastery) is one of the largest monasteries in the Everest Khumbu region. It has been named after Dawa Choling Gompa and is situated at an elevation of 3,867 meters above sea level, on the route to the Everest Base Camp. The monastery was first built in 1916 by Lama Gulu before it was devastated in the 1934 earthquake. Finally, it was rebuilt in 1989 and has ties with Tibetan Buddhism and Tibetan architecture. At the meeting point of the Dudh Koshi and Imja Khola rivers, it is positioned atop a hill with Mt. Ama Dablam providing a breathtaking backdrop. You can reach the monastery on the eighth day of your trek. The most important thing is that it is located within Sagarmatha National Park, which is one of the most important UNESCO world heritage sites. We can say that Tengboche is a heritage within a heritage.

Mani Rimdu Festival.

The lovely Mani Rimdu Festival is held each year at the Tengboche monastery on the tenth day of the Tibetan lunar month. This period corresponds to October and November in the English calendar and is one of the best trekking seasons in Nepal. In the most spectacular settings, the Mani Rimdi festival is the celebration of religious rites, music, dances, and dramas. It is also characterized by brilliant colors and commotion. The dance, which is performed by local monks, dressed in traditional religious garments and masks, represents Buddhist supremacy and their long-extinct faith over "Bon religion" and ancient Tibetan culture.

Deboche Monastery (3740m)

Deboche Nunnery a home to the nuns is also a monastery. Similar to Tengboche, Lama Gulu founded Deboche as a temple for nuns. As a quieter alternative to Tengboche, it offers impressive views of the forest and the nearby mountains. Additionally, it is 120 m lower than Tengboche and 13 km farther from Dingboche. The monastery is a significant part of the local Tibetan culture and a foundational aspect of Tibetan Buddhism. The nuns perform Buddhist rituals and blessings for Sherpa climbers as well as the community. The Monastery is less windy and has the advantage of beautiful views of the forest.

Chiwong Monastery

The Chiwong Monastery is located in the Solu-Khumbu district in the lower valley of the Everest region. It is within reach of a 3- 4 hour trek from the Phaplu airport at an elevation of 2800 m. This monastery is just one of many Buddhist monasteries in the Everest region. The late Sangey Lama founded the Chiwong Monastery in 1923. The monastery has a remarkable past, having sheltered several spiritual authorities and learned monks. The main "Ngyingmapa" Tibetan Buddhist holy event, Mani Rimdu, is held annually at Chiwong Monastery in the kind presence of Truthshig Rinpoche.

Art and crafts from Everest

Trekking through the local culture is often recommended because of how strongly different religions have inspired Nepal's stunning art and architecture. Temples, shrines, religious artifacts, and other structures feature distinctive art. In Nepal, art and religion are so inextricably entwined that they cannot be separated. The Everest settlements are rich in handicrafts, and the local handmade tools have become one of the major attractions among hikers. The Buddhist prayer wheel, Thanka painting, beads of Bodhi seeds, Tibetan Incense stick, singing bowl, Buddhist Spunsilk door curtain, Buddha status, Yak bone items (necklaces, lockets, key chains). A disastrous fire, started by an electrical short in 1989, destroyed Tangboche Monastery’s priceless antique books, statues, paintings, and woodcarvings. However, a small group of hikers was able to save some books and artwork. It has since been entirely reconstructed with funding collected from all across the world.

Important temples and monasteries in Everest

Besides Tengboche monastery, Deboche Monastery, and Chiwong Monastery, there are numerous cultural and historical sites on Everest. Gokyo Lake and Mount Everest both have religious, cultural, and historical significance to the Sherpa communities. Other religious and cultural sites you should visit are Namche monastery, Thame monastery, Khumjung monastery, Pangboche monastery, and Phakding monastery. These sites offer you a better chance to understand Tibetan art and culture. Tibetan “Bon” religion, Tibetan Thanka paintings, wooden carvings, wall decorations and paintings, food and accommodation, a lot could be understood during the trek.

Conclusion

The cultural trek to Everest has a spiritual connection to human life. Your way of thinking could be changed after the Mount Everest cultural trek. Your few minutes of meditation with the spiritual Buddhist monks/gurus in the monasteries and Buddhist temples can provide you with great consolation. Each route you trek, the air you breathe, each mountain you observe, and the forest you walk through have a cultural and spiritual bonding among the Sherpa people. The spiritual connection with nature gives them the power to survive in the remotest extremity. You can gather the same level of energy during your cultural trek to Everest.