Rongbuk Monastary

During the extended stay at basecamp it is common to head down to the Rongbuk Monastary for a day or even to spend a night. It is an especially interesting cultural part of Tibet and of the history of Mt. Everest. Below is some info from Wikipedia...

The Rongbuk Monastery itself was founded in 1902 by a Nyingmapa Lama in an area of meditation huts that had been in use by monks and hermits for over 400 years. Hermitage meditation caves dot the cliff walls all around the monastery complex and up and down the valley. Many walls and stones, carved with sacred syllables and prayers, line the paths.

The founding Rongbuk Lama, also known as the Zatul Rinpoche, was much respected by the Tibetans. Even though the Rongbuk Lama viewed the early climbers as "heretics," he gave them his protection and supplied them with meat and tea while also praying for their conversion. It was the Rongbuk Lama who gave Namgyal Wangdi the name Ngawang Tenzin Norbu, or Tenzing Norgay, as a young child.[citation needed]

In previous times, the Monastery became very active with the teachings at certain times of the year. It was, and is, the destination of special Buddhist pilgrimages where annual ceremonies are held for spectators coming from as far as Nepal and Mongolia. These ceremonies were shared with the satellite monasteries across the Himalaya also founded by the Rongbuk Lama. The ceremonies continue to this day, notably at the Sherpa Monastery at Tengboche.

The Rongphuk monastery was completely destroyed by 1974, and were left to ruin several years, as shown by photo journalist Galen Rowell in 1981.

The Monastery's vast treasury of books and costumes, which had been taken for safekeeping to Tengboche, were lost in a 1989 fire.

Since 1983 renovation works have been carried out and some of the new murals are reportedly excellent. There is a basic guesthouse and small but cosy restaurant