Overview
Mani Rimdu is the festival which is celebrated at Tengboche, Thame and Chiwang monasteries in the Khumbu region. The festival is a religious function and series of events of empowerment. The festival goes around for nineteen days of celebration allowing three days of public festival. All the Sherpa community gathers and celebrates this festival. Lamas ‘high priests’ and the local Sherpa community comes to the monastery for five days and pray and celebrate the festival for the welfare of the world. The festival is supposed to conquer the demons and virtuous being rewarded. Monks wear decorated masks and costumes perform a series of ritualistic dances. The primary first days of the festival involves prayers with the second day being the colorful Lama dancing wearing brocade gown and beautifully painted paper masks. The last day is concluded with some humorous dances and chanting prayers. The festival is attended by hundreds of locals including tourists. The trek begins from Lukla after flying out from Kathmandu and all the way to Namche Bazaar, then finally at Tengboche where the festival is celebrated. It is nice opportunity for trekking in the Khumbu region and experiencing the Sherpa culture and tradition along with witnessing great Himalayan views of the world’s tallest mountains.
Festival Dates:
The Tibetan Lunar calendar decides the date of the Mani Rimdu festival. The dates are announced by the head Lama ‘Priest’ at the Tengboche Monastery. At the Tengboche Monastery the festival of Mani Rimdu is celebrated in the 9th Tibetan month which usually falls during the months of October or November full-moon.
Outline Itinerary
Day 01 : Arrive in Kathmandu
Day 02 : Kathmandu Sightseeing
Day 03 : Kathmandu to Lukla (flight- 40 min) to Phakding (2652m) 5-6 hours
Day 04 : Phakding to Namche Bazaar (3440m) 5-6 hours
Day 05 : Acclimatization at Namche Bazaar, hike to Everest view hotel (3900m) 4-5 hours
Day 06 : Namche Bazaar to Tengboche (3860m) 5-6 hours
Day 07-08 : In Tengboche – Mani Rimdu Festival
Day 09 : Tengboche to Namche Bazaar (3440m) 5-6 hours
Day 10 : Namche to Lukla (2800m) 2-3 hours
Day 11 : Fly back to Kathmandu
Day 12 : Transfer to the Airport for your onward destination
Trip Highlights
- Breathtaking view of the world’s tallest mountains en-route flight to the Kathmandu Valley.
- Guided Sightseeing tour around UNESCO World Heritage Sites around the Kathmandu City.
- Explore the high mountain settlement and the gateway to Everest, Namche Bazaar.
- Take a Trans-Himalayan scenic flight from Kathmandu to Lukla.
- Trek past gushing rivers, green countryside, alpine meadows, valleys, glaciers.
- Experience Mt. Everest with closer proximity.
- Visit the Tengboche Monastery, one of the popular monasteries in the Everest region.
- Witness the Mani Rimbu Festival being celebrated from ages.
- Discover the Buddhist culture and traditions of the people living in the High Himalayas, Sherpas.
- Sagarmatha National Park with diverse floras and faunas.
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