Tengboche Monastery

Established around 1915, Tengboche Monastery is a rather late comer to the monastic scene in Khumbu but is by far the most vibrant and important of them all. The location was however held sacred before the monastery was built because of a rock which holds the imprint of Lama Sanga Dorje's feet. If you think leaving a footprint in solid rock is a feat, you should perhaps consider the fact that this great lama was supposedly solar powered and could also fly. The footprint is the first thing you see upon entering the monastery. Past the imprint of Lama Sanga Dorje's feet, you climb up the stairs into the central courtyard where the famous Mani Rimdu festival is held. Just outside the entrance to the main chamber you will see the Wheel of Life which depicts the cycle of birth and death. Also depicted are the Guardians of the four quarters who protect the monastery from evil. Leave your shoes and negative thoughts here. Inside, in the highly decorated inner chamber, there is large statue of Buddha Shakyamuni in the earth-witness posture which commemorates the exact moment of his enlightenment. While the main chamber does have something of a charm about it especially if there is a worship going on, the frescos are of recent origin. After being completely razed to the ground in 1989, the monastery had to be completely rebuilt. And that was the second of major misfortunes to fall on the monastery, the first being an earthquake of 1933 which also completely destroyed the monastery. Currently the monastery houses about 60 monks ranging from 8 year old greenhorns to the 80 year old reincarnate rinpoche.