Rongbuk Monastery, Buddhist monastery at Mount Everest base camp, Tibet, China
Rongbuk Monastery sits at an elevation of 5,154 meters near the north face of Mount Everest and is considered the highest monastery in the world. White stupas and colorful prayer flags mark the entrance, while behind the low stone buildings the snow-covered peaks rise into view.
The lama Ngawang Tenzin Norbu founded this site in 1899 as a meditation space for hermits already living in the surrounding rock caves. During the 1920s, British climbers rested here on their way to the summit before the monastery was damaged in the 1960s and later had to be rebuilt.
The prayer hall still serves the community of nuns and monks who live here according to the Nyingma school tradition. Worshipers can be seen walking around the stupa with prayer wheels and placing offerings.
Travelers should plan at least three days to adjust to the elevation before coming here, as the thin air can cause physical discomfort. The best time to visit is between April and November, when the access road is passable and basic overnight accommodation is available in the guesthouse.
Meditation chambers in the nearby rock caves still hold footprints believed to have been left by the founder. The view from the monastery roof is considered one of the most direct perspectives of the north side of the tallest mountain on Earth.
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