EBC Tengboche Mani Rimdu Trek
Tengboche Monastery and Mani Rimdu Trek is an easy and cultural trekking trip into the classic route of Everest Base Camp trek but the destination is only up to the Tengboche Monastery. The trek is also the adventurous trip into the Khumbu Everest region. This is a special Everest trip to explore the famous festival of Mani Rimdu celebrated around October – November months by the Sherpa people.
We begin this Tengboche Monastery and Mani Rimdu trekking journey with an exciting mountain Himalayan flight to Lukla. The airstrip is situated at an altitude of 2850 m. Sherpa settlements along the gurgling rivers and across high suspension bridges, meeting yak caravans on the way. Entering the Sagarmatha National Park we arrive at Namche Bazaar, a colorful, bustling market with traders from the surrounding villages as well as far-away from Tibet. We continue on to the Tengboche monastery with the imposing peak of Thamserku looming over the trail. From Tengboche, the views of Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse and Ama Dablam are sensational.
Tengboche monastery is the center of Sherpa Buddhist culture in Nepal. To the monastery is one of the finest trekking destinations where most often international tourist people come to visit. Mani Rimdu, dumie and loshar are some of the famous festival celebrated by the Sherpa around here so that the visitor can get enclosed with the Sherpa’s culture and traditions. The view of mountains such as Mt. Everest 8848m (the highest peak in the world), Lhotse, Ama Dablam, Thamsherku and many of those will attract each and everyone’s heart.
The trek is comparatively small and easy but it takes spectacular view of Nepalese snowcapped Himalayas. Solukhumbu, the home of legendary Sherpa, from where the trekkers get to experience the new climatic views of the world’s highest mountains. The Sagarmatha National Park, in which the northern part of Solukhumbu area has been also encompassed, was established to protect the fragile environment of this alpine Himalayan region. To the east of this park is the Makalu Barun National park, a remote and wild stretch of mountain peaks and deep densely green forested valleys.
To the west is Rolwaling valley, a well-protectedarea of cultures and ecology. Beside Everest there are three other 8000m peaks Lhotse (8516m) Makalu, Cho OYu and in addition numerous other peaks of lesser altitude but no less stunning. Add to these glacial lakes, rhododendron forests, native flora and fauna, traditional villages and ancient Buddhist monasteries, all go to make this region a spectacular destination.
ABOUT MANI RIMDU FESTIVAL
Mani Rimdu festival has been considered as the most important festival of the Sherpa people which is held during the tenth of the corresponding to October and November of the year. According to the local people Mani means “part of the chant” and Rimdu means “red pills that are blessed during the festival”.
The festival begins with an elaborate depiction of the diagram made with colored sand. The mandala takes four days to draw it is then covered and is central to the religious festival that lasts for the next 10 days. The program includes 16 dance numbers with interludes for comical effect.
The festival last for nine days and is also the autumnal trekking season in the region so large groups of international tourist visit the Tengbochemonastery to witness the festivities.
The sand mandala specially created for the festival is then formally removed with prayers for the benefit of all sentient beings. At the end of the festivities the resident Tengboche of the Tengboche Monastery blesses the general public after which the 'Mask Dances' are performed by the monks. During the festival is likely to be held on 21 October for the 'Blessing Ceremony' and 24 October for the 'Mask Dances.
The monks perform the masked dance, to usher some of the protective deities as manifestation of the legendary saint the founder of the dance numbers also display the defeat of demons and the initiation of Buddhism to Tibet. Thus, Tengboche Monastery and Mani Rimdu are major attractions for tourists in Nepal. The number of tourists visiting the Tengboche monastery is said to be about 8,000 per year and during peak tourist season the number is said to be 400 per week.
