Spiritual · Namche Bazaar, Nepal
Afternoon prayers at Tengboche monastery
Tengboche, at 3,867 m on a ridge a day's walk from Namche, is the largest gompa in the Khumbu. Arrive for afternoon prayers, with Ama Dablam and Everest framing the courtyard, and learn how the monastery survived an earthquake and a fire.
Photo: Steve Hicks · CC BY 2.0 · CommonsFrom Namche, the trail contours high above the Dudh Koshi with views of Everest, Lhotse and Ama Dablam, drops to the river at Phunki Tenga and then climbs steeply for about two hours through rhododendron and fir forest to Tengboche, on a saddle at 3,867 m. Most trekkers walk it in 5–6 hours.
The monastery was founded in 1916 by Lama Gulu. It was destroyed by an earthquake in 1934 and rebuilt, then burned in 1989 when an electrical fault started a fire that destroyed old scriptures, statues and murals. It was rebuilt again with help from donors around the world. Monks hold prayers in the afternoon; visitors may sit quietly at the back, shoes off and phones away.
Tengboche hosts Mani Rimdu, a festival of prayers, sand mandalas and masked dances held in October or November by the Tibetan calendar. Many trekkers sleep at Tengboche or at Deboche, 20 minutes below, rather than Namche on this night. Photography inside the prayer hall is usually not allowed.
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Questions
Before you book
Can visitors attend prayers at Tengboche?
Yes, usually in the afternoon. Sit at the back, remove shoes, keep silent and do not photograph inside unless permitted.
When is Mani Rimdu at Tengboche?
In October or November, depending on the Tibetan calendar. Check current status before you travel and book lodges early.
What altitude is Tengboche?
About 3,867 m. It is a common overnight stop after Namche on the Everest Base Camp trek.