Tengboche Altitude 3250m
An inhabitant from Tengboche, Tenzing Norgay, and Sir Edmund Hillary were the first to reach the summit of Everest on the British 1953 expedition. The leader of that expedition, John Hunt, described Tengboche as “one of the most beautiful places in the world.”
Surrounded by satellite dwellings, all quaintly constructed and oddly mediaeval in appearance, it provides a grandstand beyond comparison for the finest mountain scenery that I have ever seen, whether in the Himalaya or elsewhere.
It is reported that only 50 monks and five families permanently live in the Tengboche village. However, in the short span of 5 tourist months, thousands of tourists and trekkers visit (25,000 tourists were reported during 1999). Consequently this puts a heavy burden on the village community and on the Tengboche Monastery – considered the oldest celibate sherpa monastery – particularly on the meagre available facilities of water, electricity, food and sanitation. To sustain the economic conditions in the village, tourists and trekkers have been urged to offer donations to the Tengboche Development Project. Funds made available would enable employing the local people in various development activities.