Khumjung
Khumjung (3790m) is a village in Khumbu. It is located inside Sagarmatha National Park.
Understand
Khumjung is the location of the largest school in Khumbu - the Khumjung Hillary School - and although there are boarding facilities, many children walk hours everyday to attend classes here.
Get in
The village is about an hour walk from Namche - an arduous climb out of Namche, a stroll across a flat area near Shyangboche airstrip, another short climb, and then a gentle walk downhill into the village. There are no lodges on the way, so consider taking water.
See
High above the village of Khumjung is a sacred cave. After completing practices at Maratika (Haleshi) in Eastern Nepal, the founder of Tibetan Buddhism, Padmasambhava, or Guru Rinpoche as he is often referred, stayed at this cave for several days. On the outer right wall (looking from outside) there is a miraculously arisen Sanskrit character, and halfway up the climb, near some retreat houses, there is a very clear hand print of an accomplished yogi imbedded in stone. The climb is arduous, and in order not to wander in the wrong direction, it is necessary to keep the cave in focus. From below, it can be identified by the prayer flags hung outside.
The Khumjung Monastery (Khumjung Gompa) displays a scalp that purportedly comes from a yeti. While at the gompa, ask the monks (lamas) for directions for getting to Guru Rinpoche's cave.
Do
khumjung is not the cave its a village which is also known as hidden village.
Eat/drink
- Mt Everest Bakery - a cafe/bakery modelled on those in Namche. Mt. Everest Bakery was the first bakery to open in the Everest Region. Unofficially it is supposed to be the highest bakery in the world. It was opened by Pemba Dorji Sherpa, and his daughter Pema Shanti Sherpa still runs the Mt. Everest Bakery in Namche.
Sleep
The village has several lodges near the school, like Khumjung Hidden Village lodge, Khumjung lodge. Few of them have a toilet inside the room.
- Hotel Everest View. An expensive Japanese operated hotel located just above the village - guests are often flown directly from Kathmandu to the Shyangboche Airstrip near Khumjung