Mount
Qomolangma, also known as
Mt. Everest, meaning Mother
Goddess of the Universe in
Tibetan, is the highest peak
in the world. Standing at
8848 meters (29028 feet),
snow capped throughout the
year, she lies at the border
between China and Nepal. The
North Col of Everest is
located in Tinggri (Shegar).
Massive glaciers and seracs
feature a thrilling
splendor. The peak has been
a holy climbing attraction
for world's mountaineers. In
recent years, more and more
mountaineers start from the
Everest Base Camp trying to
conquer the world's highest
peak while tourists trek to
the foot of the peak to
enjoy its beauty.
Starting 30 kilometers (20
miles) south from New
Tinggri, one will reach a
checkpoint. 11 kilometers
(7miles) west of the
checkpoint, a new road and
an old one turn off south to
Everest Base Camp. A
78-kilometer (48-mile) trek
leads to Rongbuk Monastery,
which is the highest
monastery on the earth. Its
altitude is 5,100 meters
(16728 feet). The monastery
was founded in 1899, as a
Nyingmapa monastery, it was
said that once Padmasambhava,
founder of Nyingmapa,
proceeded his religious
cultivation here. The
monastery, having 8
sub-monasteries including a
nunnery, was destroyed in
the Cultural Revolution, is
gradually being restored. It
houses Lamas and nuns in the
same monastery. Sakyamuni
and Padmasambhava are
enshrined in the small
temple. Pilgrims treks a
long way to pay votive
offerings or see lamas
playing operas during big
Buddhist days.
Rongbuk has a hostel having
100 beds. A dinning room and
a store, where tourists and
mountaineers could cook and
beer are also available. 300
meters (980 feet) south of
the monastery is the famous
Rongbuk Glacier. A distance
of 10 kilometers (6 miles)
lies between the monastery
and Everest Base Camp.
The fifth Sakya Throne
Holder, Drogon Chogyal
Phakpa, known as Phakpa,
built the Southern Monastery
in 1268. Phakpa was the
spiritual guide of Kublai
khan, a Mongolian Chinese
emperor who granted Phakpa
secular and religious
authority over Tibet. After
Phakpa, Sakyapa ruled over
100 years in Tibet. The
Southern Monastery remains
in better condition. A
typical Mongolian structure,
the fortress-like monastery
covers a space of 45,000
square meters and is
surrounded by a moat, and
has an outer wall and inner
wall. With fortifications
and battlements atop, it has
only one entrance on the
east. |
