LUKLA - The First Hillary Step

Lukla owes its present form to that great legend, Sir Edmund Hillary. The original airstrip was built in 1964 by Hillary's Himalayan Trust to ease up logistics for the Trust's development work in the region. After multiple expansions and upgrades, you see the airstrip as it is today. And what an airstrip it is!! Inclined at an angle of 12 degrees with a cliff at one end and mountain at the other, landing here is an adventure in itself.

The town developed around the airstrip to cater to the increasing volume of visitors. It now has more than 30 lodges, 2 banks and many pubs. Make sure you register with the police at the end of town. It is a ritual that you will go through many times during the trek and helps in rescue operations.