Perched on a ridge with Everest, Lhotse and Ama Dablam on the skyline, Tengboche Monastery is the spiritual heart of the Sherpa homeland and a highlight of the Everest trek.
Quick answer: Tengboche sits at about 3,867 m. The monastery was founded in 1916 by Lama Gulu, destroyed by an earthquake in 1934 and by fire in 1989, and rebuilt each time with local and international help. Visitors can often join the monks' afternoon prayers.
What to see
- The prayer hall, with its large Buddha statue and wall paintings.
- Views of Everest and Ama Dablam from the courtyard.
- The afternoon puja (prayers), with chanting, horns and drums.
Mani Rimdu
Every autumn, Tengboche hosts the Mani Rimdu festival, with masked dances. See our Mani Rimdu guide.
Etiquette
- Remove shoes and hats in the prayer hall.
- Sit quietly at the back during prayers.
- Follow rules on photography inside.
- Walk clockwise around chortens and mani walls.
- Leave a small donation.
Getting there
Tengboche is a day's walk from Namche on the Everest Base Camp trek and the Everest View trek. Many trekkers stay in nearby Deboche, which is quieter.
Tengboche at a glance
| Detail | |
|---|---|
| Altitude | About 3,860 m |
| Founded | 1916, by Lama Gulu |
| Tradition | Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism |
| Rebuilt | After the 1934 earthquake, and again after a fire in 1989 |
| Views | Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, Ama Dablam, Thamserku, Kangtega |
| Famous for | Mani Rimdu festival; blessings for Everest expeditions |
| From Namche | About 5–6 hours' walk |
History in more detail
Buddhism has been part of Sherpa life since the Sherpa people migrated from eastern Tibet several centuries ago, but for a long time the Khumbu's main monasteries were small village temples such as Pangboche and Thame. In 1916, Lama Gulu, a Sherpa lama trained at Rongbuk Monastery on the Tibetan side of Everest, founded Tengboche as the first celibate monastery in the Khumbu, with the support of local families. It was destroyed by the great earthquake of 1934, which killed Lama Gulu, and rebuilt by the community. In January 1989, an electrical fire destroyed the main temple and many precious texts, statues and paintings. With help from Sherpas, trekkers, climbers and international donors, including the Himalayan Trust, the monastery was rebuilt and reconsecrated in the 1990s. Today it is home to dozens of monks and is the spiritual centre of the Khumbu.
What to see in more detail
- The main temple (dukhang): a large prayer hall with a giant statue of the Buddha, colourful murals of Buddhist deities and teachers, and shelves of sacred texts.
- The courtyard: where the masked dances of Mani Rimdu are performed.
- The entrance gate (kani): a decorated archway with painted ceilings that pilgrims walk through for blessings.
- The view: from the meadow in front of the monastery, one of the most famous mountain views in the world, with Ama Dablam to the east and Everest peeking above the Nuptse–Lhotse wall.
- The Tengboche Sherpa Cultural Centre and bakery nearby.
Attending prayers
Monks gather in the main temple for prayers in the early morning and afternoon, usually around 3 pm, and visitors are generally welcome to sit quietly at the back. The deep chanting, horns, drums and cymbals are a powerful experience. Remove your shoes and hat, sit on the benches or cushions provided, don't point your feet towards the altar or monks, and avoid talking. Photography inside the temple is usually not allowed. A donation in the box is appreciated.
Where to stay
Tengboche has a handful of lodges near the monastery, with stunning views but limited rooms, which fill quickly in peak season and during Mani Rimdu. Deboche, about 20 minutes' walk further on through rhododendron forest, has more lodges, some quite comfortable, and is slightly lower, which some trekkers prefer for sleeping. Further on, Pangboche has the oldest monastery in the Khumbu. See Everest region lodges.
Getting there in more detail
From Namche Bazaar, the trail contours around the hillside with superb views of Everest and Ama Dablam to Kyangjuma, then drops steeply to the Dudh Koshi river at Phunki Tenga (about 3,250 m). From there, a long, steep climb of about two hours through pine and rhododendron forest leads up to Tengboche. The whole walk takes about 5–6 hours. In spring, the rhododendrons around Tengboche bloom in shades of red, pink and white. Look out for Himalayan monal (danphe) and musk deer in the forest.
Tengboche and Everest expeditions
Since the early days of Everest mountaineering, expedition members have stopped at Tengboche to receive blessings from the head lama before heading to base camp. Many Sherpa climbers will not climb without a blessing. The 1953 expedition camped near the monastery and received blessings; today, the tradition continues, and expedition teams also hold their own puja ceremonies at base camp.
Best time to visit
Tengboche is visited by most trekkers on the Everest Base Camp trek, both on the way up and the way down. The clearest views are in October to December and February to April. Autumn often coincides with the Mani Rimdu festival. In spring, the forests are in flower. Winter is cold but quiet, with crisp views. See Mani Rimdu and EBC trek.
Life as a monk at Tengboche
Tengboche is home to several dozen monks, from young novices to senior lamas, most of them from Sherpa families in the Khumbu and Solu. Novices begin their education young, learning to read Tibetan scriptures, memorise prayers, play ritual instruments and make torma (sacred offerings of dough and butter). Daily life follows a rhythm of prayers in the temple, study, chores and rituals for the community, such as blessings for births, deaths, new houses and expeditions. The monks also maintain the monastery, welcome visitors and organise Mani Rimdu each year. Supporting the monastery through donations helps sustain this way of life.
Photography at Tengboche
- The classic shot: the monastery with Ama Dablam behind, from the meadow in front.
- Everest's summit peeking above the Nuptse–Lhotse ridge, best in the clear morning light.
- The colourful entrance gate and courtyard, especially during Mani Rimdu.
- Rhododendron forests on the descent towards Deboche in spring.
Photography inside the main temple is usually not allowed; ask the monks. See photography tips.
Nearby monasteries and walks
From Tengboche, walk 20 minutes to the nunnery at Deboche, one of the few nunneries in the region, or continue to Pangboche, home to the oldest monastery in the Khumbu, believed to date back over 300 years, where the famous "yeti hand" was once kept. On the way back down, many trekkers take the higher route via Phortse, a quiet Sherpa village known for its climbing school. See is the yeti real?
Visiting tips
- Arrive in the afternoon to join the 3 pm prayers, then stay overnight for sunrise views.
- Dress warmly: the temple is unheated and Tengboche is cold in the evenings.
- Remove shoes and hats inside, and sit quietly.
- Don't touch statues, offerings or ritual instruments.
- Make a donation to support the monks and the monastery's upkeep.
- If you visit during Mani Rimdu, book accommodation early.
The view from Tengboche
The panorama from the meadow in front of the monastery is one of the most photographed in the Himalaya. To the north-east, Everest's dark summit pyramid appears above the long ridge connecting Nuptse and Lhotse. To the east, Ama Dablam, often called the most beautiful mountain in the world, rises in a sweeping ridge. Thamserku and Kangtega stand to the south-east, and Taboche to the north. On clear evenings, the last sunlight turns the peaks gold and pink, and on clear mornings, the sunrise lights them one by one.