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Description: Rongbuk is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery of the Nyingma sect in Basum Township, Dingri County, Shigatse.

Rongbuk Monastery lies by the foot of the Rongbuk Glacier at 5,100m; it is the highest monastery in the world. It is only 200m lower than the north side Base Camp of Mt.Qomolangma. The monastery is accessible today via vehicle by means of an undeveloped dirt road. Prior to this, explorers had to walk for five weeks from Darjeeling, in the Indian foothills of the Himalaya, to reach this location.

Climbers must pass through Rongbuk in order to reach the highest peak of Mt.Qomolangma via the North Face. It has been described as having some of the most dramatic views in the world, presenting a panorama of the Shishapangma, Mt. Qomolangma, Cho Oyu, and Gyachung Kang peaks to visitors.

Rongbuk Monastery itself was founded in 1902 by a Nyingmapa Lama in an area of meditation huts that had been in use by monks and hermits for over 400 years. Hermitage meditation caves dot the cliff walls all around the monastery complex and up and down the valley. Many walls and stones, carved with sacred syllables and prayers, line the paths. The founding Rongbuk Lama, also known as the Zatul Rinpoche, was much respected by the Tibetans. Even though the Rongbuk Lama viewed the early climbers as 'heretics', he gave them his protection and supplied them with meat and tea while also praying for their conversion. It was the Rongbuk Lama who gave Namgyal Wangdi the name Ngawang Tenzin Norbu, or Tenzing Norgay, as a young child.

In previous times, the monastery became very active with the teachings at certain times of the year. It was, and is, the destination of special Buddhist pilgrimages where annual ceremonies are held for spectators coming from as far as Nepal and Mongolia. These ceremonies were shared with the satellite monasteries across the Himalaya also founded by the Rongbuk Lama.