Solukhumbu: A Cultural Journey to Mt. Everest
Exploring the Mountains with the Legendary Sherpas

Home to the world famous Sherpas and the highest peak in the world, the Everest, Solukhumbu offers a combination of natural beauty, culture and adventure in one life changing experience. Thousands of tourists flock to Solukhumbu every year to discover a land where the people, the culture and the environment are as timeless as the mighty Himalayas.

Attractions:

• Sagarmatha National Park:
  Sagarmatha National Park is listed as a World Heritage Site. There are few places on earth that can lay claim to the biological diversity and of the highest and the youngest mountain system in the world. Spread over 1,148 sq. km. in the Khumbu region of Nepal, the park boasts of a variety of wildlife such as the Red Panda, Snow Leopard, Musk Deer, Himalayan House Hare and over 118 species of bird including the Blood Pheasant and the Impeyan Pheasant.
• Mt. Everest:
  The mighty Everest, standing at 8848m above sea level is the world’s highest peak. Located within the Sagarmatha National Park, the peak stands as a testimony to the spirit of the human race and their attempt to conquer nature’s challenges
• Dudh Kunda- Khaling Rai Trek:
  The trail to Dudh Kunda passes through Kaku, Basa, Taksindu and Beni, taking you through dense forests of rhododendron and a variety of wildlife. The hospitality of the locals is one of the most heart warming experiences of the area. Dudh Kunda (which literally means milky lake) is believed to be a holy lake and the locals believe that taking a dip in the holy waters will have the wishes granted.
• Pikey Peak Trek:
  This 13,500ft. Pikey peak intwines with the Chyabe across east to west. The name Pikey comes from the two titles of the Sherpas. The month of July is a time of great celebration as the locals worship their clan god, the eastern Chyabo Pikey, as Pikey Hlapchen Karbu in the celebrations. A trail through Jiri-Chaulakharka-Ngaur- to reach the Pikey Daanda (Hill) area. Another trail leads from Pikey Daanda to Phaplu through Paanch Pokari and Tamakhani located north east from the district centre Salleri. The Pikey Daanda is most popular for its sunrise and sunset views and one can enjoy the glorious sight of the peaks beyond the Kathmandu Valley to the plains along with the Himalayan range of Mt. Everest, Makalu and Annapurna.
• Thuptenchholing Monastery
  This 35 year old monastery lies in Beni and is about 5 hours away from the Phaplu aerodrome. The smells of pine and the sight of the monastery give off a sense of serenity and peace. The natural beauty of this area is further enhanced by the variety of flowers and plant life like Buki, Rhododendron and Pine. The monastery is popular as a centre of religious tourism and its reputation has further been boosted by the fame of Thulsuk Rinpoche.
• Khaling Rai
  Khaling Rais are the inhabitants of Kaku, Basa, Waku, Juving and Taksindu VDCs in particular. They have their own language and practice both joint and nuclear family ties. The Khaling Rai diet consists of finger millet and naked barley (Dhindo), wheat (Roti) and rice and maize (Bhaat). Chhang (local beer) is an indispensable part of their food and culture. Although the Khaling Rais are Kirant and have their own celebrations, they celebrate the Hindu and Buddhist functions equally. Some of the better known and more important rituals are the Bhume dance, Chandi dance and the Naghi puja. The Khaling Rais believe that in order to continue human existence, it is necessary to worship their ancestors and the land god. Some degree of Shamanism can also be seen in this culture.
• Sherpas
  The best known and most admired of all of Nepal’s ethnic groups, the Sherpas migrated to the high valleys south of Mt. Everest from eastern Tibet about 450 years ago. The name Shar-pa means ‘people from the east. Their Tibetan origins are reflected in their language, customs and religion. The Sherpa homeland is dominated by old mountain gods, the most sacred of these being Number in Solu and Khumbi-la in Khumbu.

The Sherpas have a history of skilful trading with Tibet which lies nearby. This trade collapsed with the Chinese occupation of Tibet but luckily, foreign mountaineers were allowed to enter Khumbu at the same time. The development of trekking has provided an added boon, a way to make a living for them.

Getting There

The fastest and simplest way to get to this area is by air. To reach the Solu region, you can take a half an hour flight from Kathmandu to Phaplu airport and then a 20 minute walk to Salleri- the district headquarters of Solukhumbu. An alternate, if you wish to reach the Khumbu region, is to take the flight to Lukla from Kathmandu.

Getting Around

• Merapeak (6654m)
  This peak lies on the border of Bung and Chheskam VDC of Solu district. Mountaineers have to take the Thukdhingma-Chhetarba-Korne-Thaknak-Khahare and Amalapcha(base camp) route with high, narrow paths from Lukla.
• Ratnange Hill:
  Lying in the north east of the district of Solukhumbu between Salleri and Knaku VDCs, it is about three hours away from the aerodrome in the east of the headquarter. The breathtaking panoramic view of Mt. Everest, Khumbila, Thamserku, Lhotse, Nuptse and Amadablam among others can be seen from this 3500m hill. A variety of flora and fauna like rhododendron and Danphe and Munal can be experienced in the spring.
• Patale Hill:
  One of the most beautiful and graceful sights lying in the Kerung VDC, this hill borders Solu and Okhaldhunga and is renowned for Changesthan, a holy place for pilgrimage all over the world. On the west, the magnificent Churia hill can be seen and on the east, the sight of Mt. Everest. The full range of the Himalayas can be seen from left to right. The months from February to April give birth to blooming Rhododendrons and the full moon of August brings the ‘Janai Purnima’ carnival with thousands of pilgrims and worshippers.
• Culture Trek
  This trek gives visitors an opportunity to discover and interact with the local Khaling Rai and Sherpa people. The route begins in Chyalsa and goes through Kaku-Basa-Nunthala-Dudhkunda-Takshindu-Ringmo and finally to Phaplu. With rugged landscapes, a variety of flora and fauna and the beautiful villages, this trek is one of the two main treks in this area. Also of great importance is the Dudhkunda Lake which is of great religious value.
• The Everest Trail
  A 21 days trek upto Kalapathar can be done via Jiri-Junbesi-Taksindu-Kharikhola-Lukla-Namche. This trek boasts of the most exotic sceneries, a blend of sherpa and Rai culture, enroute. Teahouses and small hotels offer accommodation, but community campsites are also used widely.

About the Area

The Solukhumbu area is divided into two distinct regions, Solu and Khumbu. In the lower district of Solukhumbu, most tourists are those who trek from Salleri or Jiri to Lukla or in the reverse direction. Teahouses and small hotels offer accommodation, but community campsites are also used widely. In Khumbu, many existing tourist routes are used extensively to trek into the Everest region, but some new alternate trails can also be explored.

Phortse: Phortse is a Sherpa settlement, rich in biodiversity; wildlife and forests can be experienced in addition to the traditional Sherpa culture which is friendly and hospitable. For this, functional groups have been formed and home-stay is feasible. Local traditional food is available and sanitation and hygiene have been emphasized.

Safety/ Code of Conduct:

• Do not trek alone; trek with a guide or porter.
• Do not light campfires; cook with kerosene.
• Respect privacy; ask before photographing people or religious sites.
• Do not trample or remove animals or plants. Prevent erosion by staying on the main trail.
• Trash must be carried out, buried or disposed of in designated areas.
• Entering the Sagarmatha National Park without a permit is prohibited.
• Be sensitive to the local cultural heritage; inappropriate dress and/or behaviour may offend and permanently influence the traditions and attitudes of the local people.

Statistics:

District area: 3, 39,776 hectare
Highest peak: Mt. Everest 8848 m.
Total population: 1, 19, 901 (2001)
Ethnic groups: 31.93% Rai. Others include Sherpa, Chhetri, Brahmin, Bhujel, Gurungs, and Newars
Average Temperature: Min- 1.8 degrees Celsius Max- 11.5 Degree Celsius
Literacy: 47.86%
Economic Occupations: Agriculture, Trekking, Service holders, etc
Access: Lies in the Eastern Development Region. Flights available to Phaplu, everyday

Porters and well qualified trekking guides can also be hired locally. They can be contacted at the DDC office.

The Solukhumbu Area is promoted and supported by Tourism for Rural Poverty Alleviation Programme (TRPAP), a programme of His Majesty’s Government of Nepal, supported jointly by UNDP, SNV (Netherlands) and DFID (UK). The programme works to develop sustainable tourism in six districts of Nepal- Taplejung, Solukhumbu, Rasuwa, Chitwan, Dolpa and Rupandehi.