Overview

The Chiwang / Chiwong monastery was founded by the late Sangey Lama, in 1923. The Monastery is perched on a cliff, at an altitude of 9,000 feet - a 3-hour walk from the Phaplu airport, in the lower valley of Everest region. It is home to the legendary Sherpa people where trekkers can enjoy magnificent Himalayan views, diverse culture and the dance of prayer flags against the fresh himalayan wind.

The biggest Ngyingmapa Tibetan Buddhist religious festival, Mani Rimdu, is performed at Chiwong Monastery every year right after the full moon of autumn, at the gracious presence of Sang Sang Rinpoche, who is recognized as the reincarnation of Trulshig Rinpoche's father in absence of his holiness Trulshig Rinpoche.

Mani rimdu festival is a 19 - day sequence of sacred ceremonies and empowerments, culminating in a 3-day public festival. It's an opportunity for the local Sherpa and Tibetan communities, to gather and celebrate together with the monastic community. The festival is a re-creation of legendary events; the establishment of Buddhism in Tibet by the great saint, Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava). Through the dances, symbolic demons are conquered, dispelled, or converted to Dharma Protectors, as positive forces clash with those of chaos. The dances convey Buddhist teachings on many levels - from the simplest to the most profound - for those who do not have the opportunity to study and meditate extensively.

On the first day of the festival, Lamas of the monastery pray in the courtyard. The second day, you can see the Lamas dancing with brocade gowns and wonderful painted paper-mouth masks. Hundreds of Sherpas from all over Khumbu and foreigners attend the performance, as it is an important social occasion as well as an entertaining sight. Along with the serious and intricate dances the Buddhist Lamas also dramatize two absurd comic sequences that make the entire performance a grand and entertaining one. On the final day evening of Mani Rimdu festival the villagers join in all- night Sherpa dance.

This festival trip is combined with Pike Peak Trek observing the festivals at Chiwang Monastery. Pike peak at an altitude 4,056 m. is the best vantage point which offers the most spectacular view of the entire Himalayan range, from Dhaulagiri in the west to Kanchanjunga in the east and of course Mt. Everest.