The Sherpa Culture Museum, Namche Bazaar

Here on the Mountain Kingdoms blog, we like to share knowledge about the cultures of the Himalayan region so that those who set off on one of our treks – whether to Everest Base Camp or any of our other destinations

Here on the Mountain Kingdoms blog, we like to share knowledge about the cultures of the Himalayan region so that those who set off on one of our treks – whether to Everest Base Camp or any of our other destinations – will know something about the peoples and traditions they encounter as they go. Hopefully, in doing so, we inspire readers to keep learning, both by reading further and by keeping an open mind when they travel. There are plenty of great resources out there, but for anyone who is curious about Sherpa culture, we particularly recommend the museum at Namche Bazaar.

With its friendly atmosphere and lively market, Namche Bazaar is a popular point on the route to Everest Base Camp, and features on many of our treks. As well as being a good place to acclimatise and watch the daily comings and goings of village life, it is home to the informative Sherpa Culture Museum. With its reconstruction of a traditional Sherpa household, and its displays of old artefacts and everyday objects, it is the perfect place to get a sense of Sherpa life through the ages. The building incorporates a family room, prayer room, stable and yard, presenting a holistic view of different aspects of traditional Sherpa life, from the domestic to the religious.

As well as an interesting place for travellers to spend time when they pass through on the way to Everest Base Camp, the museum and the resource centre connected to it – which incorporates a library, a conference hall, and a collection of documents relating to the exploration of Everest – form a valuable research facility for those hoping to study and preserve this unique and beautiful culture, as well as helping to collect and share knowledge about the Himalayan region in general.