Rongbuk Monastery

Located at about 8 km away from the Everest Camp Base, with the altitude of 5,100 meters (16728 feet), more or less, Rongbuk Monastery is the highest monastery in the world. So it is also the best position to see the marvelous scenery of Mt. Everest. With the famous Rongbu Glacier nearby, which is the largest among the hundreds of glaciers. As a Nyingmapa monastery, the Rongbuk monastery was built in 1899 by a Nyingmapa Lama. It was said that once Padmasambhava, founder of Nyingmapa, preceded his religious cultivation here. The monastery used to be very active and was a destination for Buddhist pilgrimages. But it has been destoryed in the cultural revolution and later, 8 sub-Monastery including in a nunnery have been restored gradually. It houses Lamas and nuns in the same monastery. They have separate residences and live harmoniously. Sakyamuni and Padmasambhava are enshrined in the Main hall.

And the mural paintings inside are especially worthy of appreciation. It is a great way to learn Tibetan religious and the unique local culture. All the pilgrims from the whole Tibet will come to Rongbuk Monastery when it hosts grand Buddhist dancing ceremonies in the middle of the fourth month of the Tibetan Calendar. Buddhist dancing ceremony known as the Saka Dawa Festival which lasts for three days. During the ceremony, monks put on plays. The noisy spectacle attracts hundreds of travellers each year. Another festival celebrated at the Rongbu Monastery is the ghost festival held on the 29th day of the 12th month on the Tibetan Calendar used to placate ghosts and monks wearing masks perform in the grand festival. Here are some guide information for travelling to Rongbuk Monastery. Address:Dingri County in Shigatse of Tibet. Admission Fee: CNY35 Contact Number: 86-10-85968802