Monasteries in Everest Region

The Everest Region has many Sherpa villages and settlements full of Sherpa people. The people in this region follow the Buddhist religion. Many monasteries for the Buddhist community are located along the Everest Base Camp Trail and in the surrounding areas. Here are some of the popular and important monasteries that we know and see during Everest trekking.

Lukla Monastery

You can access the small Nyingma-pa Gompa by following a lane on the left, which leads off the main street and passes by Dreamland Lodge and Mera Lodge. The path heads down to the North Face Himalaya resort and then right where the Gompa can be seen. There are five cones inside. They are the red guru, Guru Rimpoche Center, the white Sanayduma, Buddha, and Chenresig. We can see a colorful wheel of life outside, the usual guardians, and an image of MI Tsering. Mi Tsering is the wise man of Khumbu who tells jokes at the main festival.

Now 15 to 35 monks and students are active here. Visit the monastery and the Thangka painting school, which offers some works for sale. Purchasing these works will provide support for the monastery and local artists.

Namche Monastery

The small Gompa high on the north side of the Namche bowl is worth visiting. This Nyingma-pa monastery house has a fine new golden image of Chenresig, the Tibetan bodhisattva known as Avalokiteshvara in Nepal. On the lower level there is a large image of Guru Rinpoche with an image of the Sakamuni Buddha and two Taras. Sakyamuni Buddha is the earthly-born Buddha in Nepal, and two Tara are female deities linked to Buddha. There is also an intriguing chamber of two prayer wheels.

The First House has Guru Rinpoche and eight of his other manifestations along with 21 Taras. The eight images are Lodan, Choged, Shakya Sengge, Padma Sambhava, Sengge Dragtop, Dorje Drolod, Tsoke Dorje in Yab-Yum, Padma Gyalpo, and Nima Odzer. The second chamber has hundreds of Buddha images.

Mende Monastery

Mende Monastery belongs primarily to the Nyingma-pa. It also finds favor with the Gelug-pa sect. The cave of the founding lama is just 3 minutes, slightly uphill to the east. After he died in 1944, he became known as the Zapo Rinpoche. As a young boy, the new incarnate found himself in Thame and journeyed to the site where the monastery now stands. Inside the main chamber, along with the back altar, are statues of Sakyamuni, Chenresig, Guru Rinpoche, and the green Tara. In front of the glass there is an altar, which is the Gelug-pa icons, Tsongkhapa and his Disciples, Shariputra, etc.

Now the monastery has electricity facilities. It has been installed since the hotel was built. The present reincarnation of Zopa Rinpoche has been abroad for the last few years and has a large following in America. There is also a nunnery just down the hill in a grove of trees on the high path towards Thame.

Thamo Monastery

For a long time this was formerly a small gompa, which was always locked and decrepit-looking. Now a super building with a large courtyard has been built. It is called Kari Garden Temple. This shrine is a rare find—a Gelukpa sect institution in the Sherpa region. It is also a nunnery. The Dalai Lama holds a central Buddha and a Gelukpa lama with his yellow hat. The eight symbols of Tibetan Buddhism are displayed. Ten nuns currently reside in this complex.

Thame Monastery

Thame Monastery is yet further uphill and takes another 30-45 minutes to reach. Once again, visiting the monastery in the morning offers better views. The monastery is over 300 years old and was established by Lama Sangwa Dorje. Rebuilt after the earthquake, the Nyingma-pa monastery has a large courtyard with a sun kettle dish. The four Guardians are present with a graphic wheel of life illustration, and the harmonious friends are standing on the elephant. A big wheel is on hand to pass the prayers skywards. There are also two fearsome protectors, the red Tamdrin (Hayagriva) and the dark Channa Dorje (Vajrapani).

Inside it is surprisingly bare but with vast collections of Buddhist books. Buddha, Chenresig, and Guru Rinpoche are clear. Here is also the photo of revered Lama Trulsik Rinpoche, who is also abbot of the Thubten Chholing Monastery above Junbensi. Up to 35 monks are in residence here. There are a couple of newish lodges here, and some have steep steps.

Note: The Theme Mani Rimbu Festival is held in May.

Khumjung Monastery

Khumjung Monastery is well worth a visit, and we can see the Kumjung villages and houses. We can see a yeti scalp here. We can see Lama with the key of Gompa, and donations are welcomed. Inside the main chamber there are various deities; Guru Rinpoche again takes center stage with his consorts. Here they are, according to the Guardian, re Pa-Meh, The small red vision is on the right, and Chowo Yeshe Norbu is on the left.

To the right is Jawa Changba in gold, and to the left is White Chenresig. The Yeti Scalp is the metal box under wraps.

Pangboche Monastery

The monastery at Pangboche used to house the so-called yeti scalp. Now it has disappeared. The monastery is the oldest in the Khumbu region. Up to 20 monks are performing ceremonies at this location. We can again find Guru Rinpoche and consorts. Outside are paintings of the four main guardian deities and the eight auspicious signs on each side of the doors.

Tengboche Monastery

The first monastery here was established in 1916. It takes 3 years to construct. This structure was established by Chatang Chotor, more often known as Lama Gulu. The building has ties with the Rongbuk monastery close to the base of Everest on the Tibetan north side. A devastating fire occurred in 1989. An earthquake had previously damaged the monastery, and shortly after, Lama Gulu passed away. The monastery was gutted, and some of its treasures were lost.

The new monastery has slowly been rebuilt and is now complete. The current Rinpoche, Ngawang Tenzin Jangpo, was born in 1953 on the same day as the Dalai Lama. After a visit by his family to the Rongbuk Monastery, he was recognized as the incarnate of Lama Gulu. His initial training took place in Tibet, and he returned to Tengboche in 1956. He is now very active in promoting all aspects of Buddhism and conservation.

Phakding Monastery

Phakding Monastery has been enlarged; there is a view of Thamserku, part of Kusum Kanguru, and way north of Tawache in the clear weather. Some say Everest is visible from higher up the ridge. This monastery is Nyingma-pa and is quite active. We understand that there are around 20 monks and nuns in residence who offer puja, usually in the mornings. The main building houses a fearsome depiction of Guru Rinpoce holding his usual Vajra. Dorje is the mace that features skulls and vase-like objects.

On either side of him are even more fearsome visions. These two female deities are his consorts, known in Nepal generally as Yeshe Tsogyal and Mandarava. The figure on the light is a very strange-looking white demon with a ghastly mouth and fearsome eyes. The other is equally fearsome and known as Dorje Tapu. If you are able to obtain permits to visit upstairs, you will uncover a smaller chamber that houses various items. There are prayer books and the mask of the long-life man, Mi Tsering. Many festivals, including the yearly Dumje Puja, take place in the area outside the courtyard. This facility is helping to refocus and reawaken the old traditions and festivals of the Sherpa.

Kyarok Monastery

Access to this little-visited sanctuary is steeply uphill next to a signboard heading left. The Kyarok Sangngag Choing Monastery is one of the oldest in this region. Kerok Ganga Lama oversees it, adhering to the ancient Nyingma-pa traditions. We can see a picture of Gaga Lam on Gompa. The main icons in the dark chamber included, on the left, Tsuma with five skulls and a fearsome appearance in red. Guru Rinpoche takes certain stages, and on the right is a fierce snow lion icon with an unknown name.

Books are in the remaining space here. Outside are the familiar wheels of life and guardians of the four directions. On the right is an unusual painting of a stupa. It looks quite modern in age and design.

Trulsik Rinpoche

Trulsik Rinpoce was born in Lho Talung, Tibet, in 1923. At the age of four, he was recognized by Ngawang Tenzin as the reincarnation of the noted master Trulsik Tendru, studying at Mindroling Monastery southeast of Lhasa. In 1959 he took refuge in Nepal at Chiwong, near Phaphlu. The monastery grew tremendously to its current state, assuming an important position in the Everest region for monks, nuns, pilgrims, and even trekkers. Trulsik Rinpoche passed away in September 2011 at the age of 88.

Chiwong Monastery

It is in the Soulkhambu region north of Phaphul airfield, high up around 2800 m. The area of Solukhumbu is a sacred valley for the Sherpa people. The late Sangay Lama founded Chiwong Monastery in 1923, but his lineage goes back to Tibet and the Kham region. This valley is the same place where Sherpa people came over 500 years ago. Some sage and learned Rinpoches have spent time at Chiwong. Among the most revered were Dza-Rongphuk Sangey Ngawang Tenzing Jangpo and an earlier Trulsik Rinpoche, who lived at the monastery from 1960 to 1967.

In spring, Chiwong hosts the colorful Mani Rimdu Festival, featuring masked dancing and recitals of the great Buddhist texts. The monastery is home to between 10 and 20 monks at any given time. The Chiwong Monastery Sangey Trust is helping to maintain and preserve the site.

Amazing old silk and wood-painted panels, exposed to the elements, adorn the courtyard. These displayed three images, one reminiscent of Tsong Khapa, founder of the later Gelug-pa sect of the Dalai Lama, one of the Sakyamuni Buddha, and one astonishing Yab-yum figure. The yab-yum figure is the image of the Buddha and his consort in a close physical embrace. The figure is a tantric image closely associated with the Nyingma-pa.

This Yab-yum is particularly intriguing, in that it represents the fearsome version with the ugly three-headed male demon embracing his consort and standing on corpses. The monks and nuns here were preparing and taking their traditional breakfast of tsampa balls and butter tea.

Important Things about everest and monasteries present here

All the monasteries in the Everest region enhance the beauty of this area. Monasteries in the Everest region are also popular destinations for international travelers. We have to do the trek to Everest base camp from Jiri and from Salleri to see some of the monasteries. Some monasteries are down below Lukla, so those who fly to Lukla will miss some monasteries. Many monasteries are near the route to Everest base camp, but the monasteries in Thame and Thame are not on the route. To visit the monasteries in Thame, we must undertake either the Renjo La pass trek or the Everest three high passes hike. The Everest Base Camp luxury trek and the Everest Base Camp yoga trek also have opportunities to visit these places. Those yoga trekkers also meditate at the monastery. Participants on the Everest Base Camp helicopter tour can see many monasteries along the trail as the helicopter flies alongside them.

Every year, there is a 5% discount on all booking on Everest base camp trek on New Year’s and Christmas

Magic Himalaya Treks Company is happy to announce that there is a 5% discount on all bookings for Everest during the New Year and Christmas. It will be a gift for all the people abroad who are planning for a holiday in Nepal. We give discounts to all the packages that reach the base camp of the world’s highest mountain. The popular treks we offer, which lead to the final destination of base camp, are:

• Everest base camp Trek
• Everest base camp Helicopter tour
• Gokyo Everest base camp trek
• Everest high pass trek
• Everest base camp short trek
• 14-day Everest Base Camp trek
• 13-day Everest Base Camp trek
• 12-day Everest Base Camp trek