Everest Region - GLOBETROTTER TOURS & TRAVELS

NAMCHE BAZAR

Namche Bazaar (also Nemche Bazaar or Namche Baza; Nepali: नाम्चे बजारAbout this soundlisten (help·info)) is a town (formally Namche Village Development Committee) in Khumbu Pasanglhamu Rural Municipality in Solukhumbu District of Province No. 1 of north-eastern Nepal. It is located within the Khumbu area at 3,440 metres (11,286 ft) at its low point, populating the sides of a hill. Most Sherpa who are in the tourism business are from the Namche area. Namche is the main trading center and hub for the Khumbu region with many Nepalese officials, a police check, post, a bank, and even a beauty salon. At the time of the 2001 Nepal census, it had a population of 1,647 people living in 397 individual households.

TENGBOCHE MONASTERY

Tengboche Monastery (or Thyangboche Monastery), also known as Dawa Choling Gompa, in the Tengboche village in Khumjung in the Khumbu region of eastern Nepal is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery of the Sherpa community. Situated at 3,867 metres (12,687 ft), the monastery is the largest gompa in the Khumbu region of Nepal.It was built in 1916 by Lama Gulu with strong links to its mother monastery known as the Rongbuk Monastery in Tibet. In 1934, it was destroyed by an earthquake and was subsequently rebuilt. In 1989, it was destroyed for a second time by a fire and then rebuilt with the help of volunteers and international assistance. Tengboche monastery is amidst the Sagarmatha National Park (UNESCO World Heritage Site), draped with a panoramic view of the Himalayan Mountains, including the well-known peaks of Tawache, Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, and Thamserku.

GOKYO VALLEY

Gokyo valley and Gokyo Ri trek in Nepal begins with a scenic mountain flight to Lukla and followed by a short hike to Phakding. Trek to Gokyo involves walking through the Sherpa homeland of Namche, ethnic villages of Khumjung, Phortse Thanga and Machhermo. On your adventurous trekking trails, walk through beautiful rhododendron forests, suspension bridges draped with Buddhist flags and yak trains. Discover the largest Tengboche monastery amidst Sagarmatha National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Breathtaking views of emerald Gokyo lakes are the major highlights of the Gokyo lake trekking. As a regular climbing trend, summit day on Gokyo Ri starts early in the morning before the sun rises after turning on headlamps and getting out from teahouse into the darkness. Once we cross the frozen lake inlet to the base of the mountain, the trail starts to be zigzag ascents to the cold slopes. If weather is clear, the view from the summit is once in a lifetime glimpse with Ngozumpa Glacier its way through the valley below, Cho Oyu stands nearby and endless lines of mountains stretch away to the horizon. Mount Everest as Viewed from here is fairly tall, rising another 3.5km above the point on which you stand.

KHUNDE AND KHUMJUNG

Khumjung is the location of the largest school in Khumbu – the Khumjung Hillary School – and although there are boarding facilities, many children walk hours everyday to attend classes here. The village is about an hour walk from Namche – an arduous climb out of Namche, a stroll across a flat area near Shyangboche airstrip, another short climb, and then a gentle walk downhill into the village. There are no lodges on the way, so consider taking water. High above the village of Khumjung is a sacred cave. After completing practices at Maratika (Haleshi) in Eastern Nepal, the founder of Tibetan Buddhism, Padmasambhava, or Guru Rinpoche as he is often referred, stayed at this cave for several days. On the outer right wall (looking from outside) there is a miraculously arisen Sanskrit character, and half way up the climb, near some retreat houses, there is a very clear hand print of an accomplished yogi imbedded in stone. The climb is arduous, and in order not to wander in the wrong direction, it is necessary to keep the cave in focus. From below, it can be identified by the prayer flags hung outside. The Khumjung Monastery (Khumjung Gompa) displays a scalp that purportedly comes from a yeti. While at the gompa, ask the monks (lamas) for directions for getting to Guru Rinpoche’s cave.

SAGARMATHA

Sagarmāthā National Park is a national park in the Himalayas of eastern Nepal that is dominated by Mount Everest. It encompasses an area of 1,148 km2 (443 sq mi) in the Solukhumbu District and ranges in elevation from 2,845 to 8,848 m (9,334 to 29,029 ft) at the summit of Mount Everest. In the north, it shares the international border with the Qomolangma National Nature Preserve of Tibet. In the east it is adjacent to Makalu Barun National Park, and in the south it extends to Dudh Kosi river. It is part of the Sacred Himalayan Landscape. Sagarmāthā is a Nepali word derived from सगर् sagar meaning “sky” and माथा māthā meaning “head”. The protected area has been identified as an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International.

EVEREST BASE CAMP

Everest base camps refers generally to two base camps on opposite sides of Mount Everest: South Base Camp is in Nepal at an altitude of 5,364 metres (17,598 ft) (28°0′26″N 86°51′34″E), while North Base Camp is in Tibet, China at 5,150 metres (16,900 ft) (28°8′29″N 86°51′5″E). The base camps are rudimentary campsites at the base of Mount Everest that are used by mountain climbers during their ascent and descent; they are also visited by hikers. South Base Camp is used when climbing via the southeast ridge, while North Base Camp is used when climbing via the northeast ridge. Supplies are shipped to the South Base Camp by porters, and with the help of animals, usually yaks. The North Base Camp is accessed by a paved road that branches from China National Highway 318. Climbers typically rest at base camp for several days for acclimatization, to reduce the risk of altitude sickness.

Famous for its spectacular mountain peaks and the loyalty and friendliness of its inhabitants (the Sherpas), the Everest region (Khumbu) is one of the most popular destinations for tourists in Nepal. While many of the routes through the mountains are arduous, there are ample places to rest and enjoy a meal along the way. Furthermore, don’t worry about getting lost. Just ask a local the way to the next village on your route, and they will direct you. Most Sherpas under the age of 50 can at least understand basic English, and many speak it fluently. While trekking is possible in this area the whole year round, the best times to visit are from the beginning of March to mid May and from the beginning of September to mid November. The winters are very cold and snow may make it difficult to travel higher than Tengboche, and also lodges may be closed above this altitude. Summers, on the other hand, are wet, and the spectacular peaks are often lost in the clouds. April and early May is a good time to see the hedgerows and trees bursting into bloom, with rhododendrons, in particular, adding a spectacular splash of color to the landscape. However, dust from the plains of India during the spring routinely provide less than ideal conditions for clear mountain views. The views are much better after the summer monsoons have cleared the atmosphere of dust, but the days are shorter and cooler.