Namche Bazaar is commonly known as the gateway to Mount Everest among mountaineers and trekkers because it is the best starting point for the journey towards Everest and other Himalayan peaks of the Khumbu region and provides an incredible view of snow-capped mountains and peaks. Namche Bazaar is a beautiful and prosperous town in the region famous for its beautiful homestay and friendly people. The place offers every necessary trekking and climbing item to the trekkers and mountaineers. The town provides the authentic culture and lifestyle of Sherpas. 

Namche Bazaar is situated in the Khumbu region near Mount Everest. It is a famous hustling and bustling amphitheater-style town that is used for acclimation by most trekkers and mountaineers. The town offers spectacular views of mountains including Mount Everest. Unofficially, Namche is the capital of the Everest region. Namche Bazaar is a significant trading center between Nepal and Tibet. It is the best place for knowing the history, culture, and lifestyle of Sherpas as well as the stories of famous trekkers and mountaineers. 

The town is popular among adventure seekers who want to spend a good time in peace with nature. Many trekkers and mountaineers of this region spend 1 to 2 days of their trekking days in this town. However, you can also do the Everest Namche Bazaar trek if you just have a short period for trekking. The town has a handful of facilities for its visitors. you can find a bank, cafe with the internet, ATM machine, restaurants, nightclubs, and many shops for adventure gear.  Similarly, the guest house and lodge of this town have some of the finest facilities with well-furnished modern toilets and bathrooms.

Highlights of Namche Bazaar 

  • Exploring the famous Sherpa Villages
  • Amazing view of mountains from Everest View Hotel
  • Experience a short and comfortable trek for the newbies who want to explore the Himalayans in a short period of time
  • Stunning view of mountains including Mount Everest and Mount Ama Dablam
  • Visit monasteries and museums in the region 
  • Warm welcome and hospitality of the Sherpa people

Things To Do in Namche Bazaar

Namche Bazaar is a famous tourist hub in the Everest region. The town holds a weekly junction where Sherpas around the valley gather and sell and buy agricultural and electronics.  There are many things you can do in Namche Bazaar along. Some of the things that can do or visit in Namche Bazaar are mentioned:

  • Monasteries

There are some monasteries in Namche Bazaar famous for their spiritual value. Tengboche Monastery is the largest monastery in the region. It is also known as Dawa Choling Gompa. This monastery is beautiful and surrounded by spectacular mountains like Mount Everest, Ama Dablam, Nuptse, Lhotse, and many more. You can be blessed for your adventure and life by the Buddhist monk of the monastery. There are also many other small monasteries in the village. 

  • Sherpa Culture Museum

Sherpa Culture Museum is located above the village of Tengboche trail and is built in traditional Sherpa architecture and design. You can visit the museum to learn about the history and culture of the Sherpa People. Sherpas are the local people of the Everest region, the museum protects the ancient Sherpa artifacts in their original form as well as the lifestyle of the people. Anyone can visit the museum to know the locals more closely. A photographer Lhakpa Sonam runs the museum and keeps various cultural objects of Sherpa and photos of all the Sherpa Everest Summiteers. 

  • Stunning View from Everest View Hotel

Twelve rooms hotel in the Everest region, Everest View Hotel, offers an incredible panoramic view of Mount Everest and other surrounding peaks. You need to do a short day hike from Namche Bazaar to reach the hotel. The hike also helps for acclimatization if you are doing a high trek. The sunrise and sunset from the Everest View Hotel are amazing that you don’t want to miss this beauty of Nature.

  • Weekly Market

Namche Bazaar holds a weekly market, every Saturday to sell the necessary trekking and electronic items brought from Kathmandu. This market is exciting as you can buy any necessary equipment and you will have a close overlook at the local people from this market. The items from this market are comparatively cheaper than from the shops in the village. You can find herbs, equipment, and electronic items. You can also purchase a piece of art that is crafted by local people and other agricultural products in this market. 

  • Dumji Festival

You can witness and enjoy the annual festival, Dumji if you are visiting Namche Bazaar in June. The festival is celebrated by the local people of every village in the Khumbu region. This festival is celebrated to honor the succession and hard work of a highly respected Sherpa Lama.

  • Shangbouche Hills

You can also walk to Syangboche hill which is at an altitude of 3900 meters. Here you get an incredible view of mountains like Everest, Ama Dablam, Lhotse, Konde Ri, and Khumbila. You can have a peaceful and worth spending time on this hill with amazing views of mountains and a chill atmosphere. 

  • Visit Kancha Sherpa

Do visit Kancha Sherpa who is the last remaining climbing Sherpa from the ultimate 1953 Everest Expedition. He has experienced of many adventures climbing on Island Peak, Everest Expeditions, and Makalu. Visit Nirvana Lodge to find Kancha and listen to his experience stories by paying Rs 500. 

Some facts about Namche Bazaar

Namche Bazaar is the famous tourist hub of the Everest region which has its exciting history. Namche Bazaar is more developed in infrastructure and facilities than other villages in the Everest region.  In Namche Bazaar, there are three museums that have their stories to tell, a monastery, some bakeries, and shops which sell necessary trekking equipment. The following are some facts about Namche Bazaar which are very interesting.

  • First Acclimatization point

Namche Bazaar is popular for being the first acclimatization point for various trekking as well as climbing in the Everest region. Any tourists heading to Everest, Gokyo, or other Everest region trek, have two or more nights of a stopover in Namche Bazaar for acclimatization to overcome the possible sickness and health problems. You can also visit the Hillary Hospital of Khundu village in case of any severe health problems.

  • Administrative Centre

You can say Namche Bazaar is a big administrative center of the Khumbu region as there are many governmental offices. In Namche Bazaar there is the headquarters of Sagarmatha National Park as well as a local electricity authority. Similarly, the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau is also there which is responsible to take legal action against those who harm wildlife and nature.  The town also has its own post office. 

  • Sherwi Khangba Centre

Sherwin Khangba is a traditional Sherpa house that is famous for its preservation of the Himalayan Sherpa culture. This house reflects the authenticity of Sherpa’s lifestyle and culture. Here you can find many traditional tools and equipment. It also has a Mount Everest documentation center for Sherpa climbers. You can find various photographs of the Khumbu region. It has a hall for its own or international conference.

  • Honorary Visit

In October of 1985, the 39th president of the United States of America, Jimmy Carter with his wife Rosalyn visited Namche Bazaar. They went there in a personal chopper of the late king Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev.  

  • Home of Legendary Tenzing Norgay Sherpa and Apa Sherpa

Thame, Namche is the home of two legends mountaineers Tenzing Norgay Sherpa and Apa Sherpa. Tenzing Norgay holds the record for being the first human to set on the world’s highest mountain, Mount Everest along with Sir Edmund Hillary. Similarly, Apa Sherpa was also born in the same village and he is famous for being a person holding 21 times Everest ascent record. And he is also a brand ambassador for raising awareness of global warming in the high Himalayas.

  •  Mud and stone houses

In Namche Bazaar, you will mostly find stone and mud houses. Even in the present days, you will rarely find cemented houses in Namche. The stone and mud houses are really beautiful. Wooden frames make the houses unique. The roads in the villages are also mostly of stone and mud therefore, there is no path for biking or four-wheelers. Though the houses are mostly of stone and mud, they are strong.

  • Dairy products

Namche is famous for buying and selling dairy products, mostly butter. The products from Upper Khumbu supplied Namche as well as some neighboring districts like Khotang and Bhojpur. The dairy products like butter, Chhurpi, ghee, etc found in Namche are really delicious. Just to supply these dairy products in Namche, it takes about a week of more. So it is better not to bargain on those products to appreciate their hard work.