Khumbu glacier, Solu Khumbu Everest Region, Sagarmatha National Park, Himalayas, Nepal, Asia

Puja ceremony, Everest Base Camp, Solu Khumbu Everest Region, Sagarmatha National Park, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Nepal, Himalayas, Asia

Trekker crossing a mountain stream, Ama Dablam, 6812m, Solu Khumbu Everest Region, Sagarmatha National Park, Himalayas, Nepal, Asia

Lingtren, 6697m, Solu Khumbu Everest Region, Sagarmatha National Park, Himalayas, Nepal, Asia

Mountain scenery on flight to Lukla, Solu Khumbu Everest Region, Himalayas, Nepal, Asia

Trekker crossing a mountain stream, Ama Dablam, 6812m, behind, Solu Khumbu Everest Region, Sagarmatha National Park, Himalayas, Nepal, Asia

Tengboche Monastery, Tengboche, Solu Khumbu Everest Region, Sagarmatha National Park, Himalayas, Nepal, Asia

Mountain scenery on flight to Lukla, Solu Khumbu Everest Region, Himalayas, Nepal, Asia

Yak on a trail below Kala Pattar and Pumori, 7165m, Solu Khumbu Everest Region, Sagarmatha National Park, Himalayas, Nepal, Asia

View of Ama Dablam, 6812m, Solu Khumbu Everest Region, Sagarmatha National Park, Himalayas, Nepal, Asia

View of Cholatse, 6440m, from Gokyo Ri, 5483m, Gokyo, Solu Khumbu Everest Region, Sagarmatha National Park, Himalayas, Nepal, Asia

Mani stone, Solu Khumbu Everest Region, Sagarmatha National Park, Himalayas, Nepal, Asia

Tengboche Monastery, Tengboche, Solu Khumbu Everest Region, Sagarmatha National Park, Himalayas, Nepal, Asia

Tents at Island Peak Base Camp, Solu Khumbu Everest Region, Sagarmatha National Park, Himalayas, Nepal, Asia

Crossing ladders in the Khumbu icefall on Mount Everest, Solu Khumbu Everest Region, Sagarmatha National Park, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Nepal, Himalayas, Asia

Ama Dablam 6812m, Solu Khumbu Everest Region, Sagarmatha National Park, Himalayas, Nepal, Asia

Trekkers arriving at Everest Base Camp, Solu Khumbu Everest Region, Sagarmatha National Park, Himalayas, Nepal, Asia

Climbers on an ice wall, Island Peak 6189m, Solu Khumbu Everest Region, Sagarmatha National Park, Himalayas, Nepal, Asia

Trekkers in Chukhung Valley, Solu Khumbu Everest Region, Sagarmatha National Park, Himalayas, Nepal, Asia

Climbers on an ice wall, Island Peak 6189m, Solu Khumbu Everest Region, Sagarmatha National Park, Himalayas, Nepal, Asia

Lukla, Solu Khumbu (Everest) Region, Nepal, Asia

Mountains reflected in a lake, Thame, Solu Khumbu Everest Region, Sagarmatha National Park, Nepal, Asia

Yellow tents at Everest Base Camp, Solu Khumbu Everest Region, Sagarmatha National Park, Himalayas, Nepal, Asia

Chorten, Solu Khumbu Everest Region, Sagarmatha National Park, Nepal, Asia

Fire ritual at chiwang monastery during the mani rimdu festival. these monks circumambulate the pyre after its ignition. one holds a long book wrapped in a felicitous scarf. the purifying fire takes the offering and raises them towards the sky in smoke. the circumambulatory ritual also recalls the way disciples showed respect for the buddhas body. solu khumbu, nepal

Monk beating traditional drum called gong, int he courtyard of chiwang monastery during mani rimdu festival. chiwang monastery, solu khumbu, nepal

A solitary mask dancer appears wearing a frightening mask and silk brocade. they circle the courtyard with sprightly leaps. called protectors of faith, or dharmapdla, the origins of figures like these can be traced back to the pre-aryan peoples of india. originally known as yaksas (literally, a wondrous thing), they were tree spirits, who were accepted by the buddhists as defenders of the faith. in nepal and tibet, as in india, local deities were converted into protectors. a devotee of an alien sect devised a means to humiliate the buddha and his disciples. the buddha discovered it and succeeded in converting him to his teaching. due to lack of wisdom, the buddha remarked, some could not realize the goodness of his disciples and he compared the ignorant to the blind and the wise to those who have eyes.nobody is condemned in buddhism, for greatness is latent even in the seemingly lowliest just as lotuses spring from muddy ponds. -the dhammapada. solu khumbu, nepal

Sang sang rimpoche uses the dorje, a sacred ritual object to make the first decisive cut into the sand mandala on the last day of the mani rimdu festival. chiwang monastery, solu khumbu, nepal. solu khumbu, nepal

Thupten choeling nuns prepare butter-salt tea at nunnery-kitchen. solu khumbu, nepal