01 MAY 2013 - TENGBOCHE

After the busy day of Namceh , it was time to head out to 3850 mts .Today had to be one of the most beautiful treks that I have ever been on. The route from Namche to Tengbouche was amazing to say the least. Covered by trees and pretty little wooden bridges over streams – I just could not get enough of beautiful pictures on the way! Every time I looked up, I saw a tree covered with rhododendron blossoms and snow covered peaks in the background.

After a pleasant two hour walk , we stopped for lunch at a tea house in a tiny village called Phungi Tanga right next to the Dhudh kosi river and I noticed a herd of wild ibex on the opposite side – my first sighting of the wild side up in these mountains. Post lunch, we continued our way through the beautiful route all the way up to Tengbouche – a tiny settlement on a pass. Huffing our way to the top, we reached and I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw this settlement – all I could see was a lodge, a tiny bakery, a few tents and a monastery! This pass had the most amazing location with snow-capped mountains all around us. On reaching, we attended the prayer ceremony at the historical Tengbouche monastery – a famous and beautiful monastery located in the lap of Tamserku and Ama Dablam. The oldest Monastery in the Khumbu region, this institution has been witness to some of the greatest climbers in the region who have sought blessings from here before embarking on their adventures. It was peaceful and serene to say the least. Horses and yaks grazed away peacefully out in the open. My evening passed away in a blur of tea, conversation and fun at the only bakery in town! Soon, it was time for dinner and as usual, all of us crashed into bed before you could say “Have a good night!”

Group Heading towards Tengboche