The Everest region is located in the northeast of Nepal. The
10-day walk through the middle hills of Solu to the higher altitudes of Khumbu
to the base of Sagarmatha, or Mt. Everest, the world’s highest peak, is an
opportunity to observe and participate in the daily life of the legendary
Sherpa people. The prime attraction – the 8,848 m peak of Mt. Everest – lies in
Sagarmatha National Park, which is also home to two other eight thou sanders –
Lhotse and Cho Oyu – besides several other prominent peaks above 6,000 m.Designated
as a World Heritage Site in 1979, much of the 1,148 sq. km park lies above
3,000 m. The park is composed of rugged terrain with deep gorges, glaciers and
huge rocks. The vegetation in the park changes from pine, hemlock, fir,
juniper, birch, rhododendron and shrubs to alpine plants and then to bare rock
and snow. It is home to the ghoral, tahr, serow and musk deer as well as the
impeyan pheasant, blood pheasant, red-billed chough and the yellow-billed
chough.The trail to Everest also begins at Lukla, the airport at 2,850 m. The
trail climbs up the Dudhkoshi River Valley, and the following day brings you to
the legendary Sherpa village of Namche Bazaar in the Khumbu (3,500 m), which is
the staging point for expeditions to Everest and other peaks in the area. Above
Namche lie the traditional villages of Khunde and Khumjung. Khumjung which is
the largest village in the Khumbu lies at the foot of the sacred peak Khumbila.
The Khunde Hospital, maintained by Himalayan Trust, and Khumjung School, the
original Hillary School set up in 1960, lie here.
Across the
canyon from Khunde, perched on a high ridge, is the Tengboche Monastery, the
leading Buddhist center in the Khumbu. The monastery rests amid stunning views
of Everest, Lhotse and Ama Dablam. Pines, azaleas and colorful mountain
rhododendrons ring the attractive monastery. There are rest houses, lodges and
camping sites here.From Tengboche you can continue on to Pheriche, Kala Pattar
and the hamlet of Gorakshep. From here,
the site of Everest Base Camp is easily accessible, as is the summit of KalaPattar (5,545 m), from which much of Mt. Everest is clearly visible. However,
you must take time to properly acclimatize as the altitude gains are rapid.
