Myths and legends

On the way to the Everest base camp there is a very famous and revered Tengboche monastery, which is the center of Sherpa culture. 35 monks lives in the monastery, this is the largest monastery in the district. The monastery is located in a stunningly beautiful place with excellent views of Everest, Lhotse and Ama Dablam. The monastery was built in the twentieth century. However, the history of its appearance is much more ancient.

According to legend, 350 years ago, Lama Sangwa Dordje came (or flew in, as some versions of the legend claim that Lama was able to levitate) in the Khumbu valley. Lama spent a lot of time in the valley and two local legends are associated with his name.

According to the first legend, during a retreat near Pangboche village, the yeti was bringing food to the cave where the lama meditated. Lama really appreciated the help of the yeti and, when the yeti died, placed his scalp and wrist as relics in a specially founded monastery in Pangboche. Relics were kept in the monastery for three hundred years but were stolen from the monastery in the 70s.

According to the second legend, not far from Pangboche, Lama Sangwa Dorje noticed a place that he considered sacred and suitable for a large monastery. He marked this place with the imprint of his foot in the rock. Today, the stone with the footprint of the saint is the main shrine of the monastery.

However, the monastery in the place marked by the Lama was founded by Chotang Chotar (or known as Lama Gulu) from Kumjlung village only in 1923 with the blessing of the founder of Tibetian monastery Rongbuk (not far from the Everest base camp from the Tibetan side) Ngawang Tenzin Norbu, which was considered the fifth the reincarnation of Lama Sangwa Dordje. The monastery was called Tengboche, which literally means "footprint."

Tengboche Monastery was destroyed by an earthquake in 1933. During the earthquake, the llama died. The restored monastery completely burned down in 1989 and was again rebuilt by Lama Navang Tenzing Jangpo, who is considered the reincarnation of Lama Gulu. Many famous people took part in the restoration of the monastery, including famous alpinists.