Founded in 1916, shaken in 1934, burned in 1989
Buddhism reached Khumbu some 350 years ago, and the valley's oldest gompa, at Pangboche, is attributed to Lama Sangwa Dorje. But Tengboche is younger. In the early 20th century Ngawang Tenzin Norbu, the abbot of Rongbuk Monastery on the Tibetan side of Everest, was revered by Khumbu Sherpas. He blessed a Khumbu lama, Chatang Chotar, known as Lama Gulu, to found a monastery on this ridge. With funds from three wealthy Sherpa patrons, it was built in 1916, the first celibate Nyingma monastery in Khumbu.
In 1934 a great earthquake destroyed the buildings, and Lama Gulu died soon after. His successor, Umze Gelden, rebuilt with support from Rongbuk, helped by local Sherpas and a carpenter from Lhasa. Tengboche grew into the heart of Khumbu's religious life. Tenzing Norgay was sent here as a boy to be a monk, though he did not stay. The 1953 Everest expedition camped near the monastery on its way in.
In January 1989 a fire, reportedly started by an electrical fault, destroyed the main temple with many of its scriptures and paintings. The rebuilding took years and drew help from Sherpa families, volunteers and international donors, among them Hillary's Himalayan Trust. The new temple was consecrated in the early 1990s. Today the monastery runs a school for young monks and a small cultural centre.
