Rongbuk Monastery

Fast Fact:

Established: By Guru Padmasambhava

Established: In the 8th century

Location: Basum Township, Shigatse, Tibet Autonomous Region

Elevation: 4980m

Attraction: Rongbuk Monastery, Mt. Everest

The world’s highest monastery, Rongbuk (Dzarongpu), sits at 4,980 meters above sea level. Founded in the 8th century by Indian master Padmasambhava, the founder of Tibetan Buddhism’s Nyingmapa order, it originally had three nunneries and monasteries with around 500 monks and nuns, along with nearby meditation caves. Lama Ngawang Tenzin renovated it in 1901.

This plateau monastery, at the world’s highest point, has an area of meditation huts and caves used by nuns since the 18th century. Its two golden and copper statues of Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche) are highly sacred after the reconstruction.

Today, two popular roads from Old Tingri and Shelkar lead there. A 4 – 5-hour drive offers a great view of Everest’s north face with a stupa (Chorten) in front for a perfect photo. Pilgrims from Tibet and Nepal have tied colorful prayer flags around. It’s a dream destination for travelers globally. Tibet tourism has set up a post office and military base camp. The nearby tent – guesthouse, with colorful decorations and warmth from yak dung – burning ovens, is another draw.

This post office holds the title of being the world’s highest. Through it, tourists are able to send their most memorable photos to their family members and dear ones.

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