Spiritual · Tengboche
Sit in on Tengboche's afternoon puja
Join the monks of Khumbu's largest monastery for their afternoon prayers: deep chanting, long horns, drums and butter lamps beneath walls painted with the Buddha, Guru Rinpoche and Khumbu's protector deities. Visitors are welcome if quiet and respectful.
The main prayer hall at Tengboche is reached through a stone courtyard with a carved gateway. Inside, rows of low benches face a great gilded Buddha, flanked by statues and murals rebuilt after the 1989 fire. In the afternoon the monks gather, from boys of ten to elderly lamas, and the chanting begins, with the drone of long horns, the clash of cymbals and the steady beat of the drum.
Visitors sit along the side walls or at the back. Remove shoes at the door, take off your hat, keep your feet tucked rather than pointing at the altar, and stay silent. Photography is not allowed during the ritual. The puja usually lasts about an hour; you may leave quietly between sections. A donation in the box at the entrance helps support the monastery school.
Ask your guide beforehand to identify the figures you will see: Shakyamuni Buddha at the centre, Guru Rinpoche who brought Buddhism to the Himalaya, and the protector deities, including, in many Khumbu gompas, Khumbu Yul Lha on his white horse. Understanding what you are seeing turns an hour of sound into an hour of meaning.
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Questions
What time is the puja at Tengboche Monastery?
The monks' afternoon puja usually begins around 3 pm and lasts about an hour, though timing can change with the ritual calendar and the season. Arrive a few minutes early and ask at the gate. Morning prayers also take place but start very early. Check with your lodge on arrival for that day's times.
Can I take photos inside Tengboche Monastery?
Not during the puja, and generally not inside the prayer hall without permission. You may photograph the courtyard and the outside of the monastery freely. If you want an interior photo, ask a monk outside ritual times; sometimes it is allowed for a donation, sometimes not. Respect a no.
Is there an entrance fee at Tengboche Monastery?
There is no fixed ticket for attending the puja, but visitors are expected to leave a donation, and the monastery may charge a small fee for its cultural centre or for photography. Donations support the monks' school and upkeep. Carry small rupee notes, as there is no ATM above Namche.
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