Gathering for Lama's message on the 859th anniveranniversary of the monasteryof the Monastery
Amanda Davis
Best
Yak on Everest Basecamp Trail
Yaks are the primary means of moving goods up and down the trail from Lukla up to Everest basecamp. This view in the Himalayas is above the settlement of Pheriche.
John Belyea
Best
Mount Everest from Tibet
The mighty Mount Everest is an amazing sight to behold. Taken at 3 o'clock in the afternoon in early May, this is a great time of year to capture a picture of the mountain with the best chance of clear blue skies. Keep in mind that pictures taken from the Nepalese side will have the sun behind the mountain at this time of year. While the day was calm, the mountain peak was not spared from the high altitude winds.
View of Mount Everest - black peak in background - with sun rising in behind. View is from the 18,519 foot peak of Kala Patthar above the settlement of Gorakshep near Everest Base Camp.
John Belyea
Best
Celebration of the Yoghurt Festival in Lhasa
I was staying in a hotel in Lhasa, Tibet when I heard explosions. I had no idea what might be causing them so I went to the window and looked out toward the Potala Place. Fireworks was exploding everywhere in front of it. The hotel had an observation deck on the roof so I grabbed my camera and went up there and started taking photos. The fireworks display went on and on and I took photos until it ended. This is one of many I took from the roof that night. I felt lucky to be there while that special festival was being held.
Philip Larson
Best
Sadhu at Pashupatinath Temple
I encountered this sadhu at the Pashupatinath Temple, which presently holds title as the largest temple complex in the world as well as one of the oldest temples. Named a World Heritage Site in 1979, it is a sprawling collection of temples, ashrams, and monuments. Located in Kathmandu, Nepal, it’s in a valley surrounded by the Himalayan mountains. He offered a blessing just for me.
Dorothy Thompson
Best
Kids playing at Shigatse
Kids playing at Shigatse (2007)
Andre Silveira Mafra Silva
Best
Woman walking in front of the donkey cart
A Tibetan woman walks in front of the donkey cart (maybe that's her husband driving the cart) in a remote area of Tibet on the approach to the Rongbuk Monastery and Mt. Everest base camp.
Mark Blum
Best
Nanga Parbat South Side
Many people don't realize that the Himalaya ends in Pakistan where it meets both the Karakorum and the Hindu Kush in a three way contest of the mountain range giants. Nanga Parbat is the highest peak in the Pakistan Himalaya. The tiny village of Tarishing on the south side of the peak provides that perfect mountain view on a clear day.
Jane Eagleson
Best
Face to Face with Everest
Bryce Caster
Best
Young Monks
I came upon these young men training to become monks - can you guess what they were laughing about?
Kim Hester
Best
Prayer Flags
Between Jammu & Kashmir and Tibet lies Ladakh Territory in India. Tattered prayer flags blow in the thin air above 18,000'.
Jay Katz
Best
Bhutan
Approaching the Paro Taktsang (Tiger's Nest) Monastery, West Bhutan, 2014.
In November 2019, shortly before the pandemic, I travelled to Tibet. After imbibing the incredibly rich culture of Tibet, with numerous temples and monasteries, the road to the Everest Base Camp took me to a pass at 5200 meters (17 000 feet) of altitude with an amazing spectacle: the top of Mount Everest (Qomolangma in Tibetan) rose above the barren foothills in exceptionally clear weather, and below me rows of Buddhist prayer flags fluttered in the wind, illustrating the cultural context. A magnificent experience.
Joachim von zur Gathen
Best
Room With a ViewDSC03726
Mt. Everest from Tibet side with an outhouse, presumably not emptied as it was roped off
Fran Macpherson
Best
Western Tibet
On the road, west of Paryang. Near Punsum (Bunsum) Tibet. 2006.
Overlooking an unknown lake below, these prayer flags are tied to power lines and highlight the landscape around with the arid mountains punctuated by azure blue skies and an opaque green lake.
Lana Skeet
Best
IMG_1248Twist and Shout
Road to Mt. Everest twisting and turning, the wind took my breath away as I shouted for joy at seeing Mt. Everest
Fran Macpherson
Best
Mount Everest from Rongbuk monastery
Early morning view (2007 photo)
Andre Silveira Mafra Silva
Best
Tibetan Herders
I took this photo of Tibetan Herders somewhere deep in the countryside
Jim Simone
Best
Himalayan Village from Above
View of high altitude village in Tibet
Amanda Davis
Best
Everest at Sunset
Everest at dusk from Rongphu monastery Tibet
Amanda Davis
Best
Buddhist child in Lhasa
A young Tibetan girl prepares to prostrate herself as she crawls around the Jokhang, the most important temple in Tibet. The paddles are to protect her hands as she crawls and the overgarment has been worn thin by repeated trips around the temple.
Mark Blum
Best
Khumbu Glacier
The Khumbu Glacier late in the afternoon near the settlement of Gorakshep. Everest basecamp is a short hike up from this spot.
John Belyea
Best
The Highest
I got closer, as close as Base Camp. But this, to my eyes, was the most beautiful image of Chomolungma, aka Sagarmatha, aka Everest. The image was made from the Jiu-La Pass, near the Rongbuk Monastery, a contender for the highest monastery in the world. Since the “facility” (outhouse) of that monastery is uphill, it might well be the highest toilet in the world?
Dorothy Thompson
Best
Ladakh, India
Many temples dot the Himalayan Mountains in Ladakh, India.
Jay Katz
Best
Landing in Lhasa
This is part of the range I saw, one of my first peeks at the Himalaya peaks below as my flight descended for landing in Lhasa. The altitude of that city takes some getting accustomed to. At my hotel, an oxygen rich room was offered with comfortable seating and, most important, a place to breathe.
Dorothy Thompson
Best
Gyantse, Tibet
Palcho Monastery as seen from Gyantse Fortress (2007)
Andre Silveira Mafra Silva
Best
Tibetan prayer flags to the sky
At this rest stop south of Shigatse, enroute to Mount Everest base camp, these prayers flags perfectly caught the wind as they seemingly climbed the mountain. Did you know the color of prayer flags means the following: blue is the sky signifying wisdom, white is clouds or healing and purification, red is fire or energy, green is water symbolizing harmony, yellow is earth representing humility.
Lana Skeet
Best
Bhutan Festival
In the kingdom of Bhutan everybody dresses up for the festivals which are an important part of Buddhism, the official religion of the country. The children especially enjoy the spectacle.