Sherpas are unique people who live in remote corners of Nepal. Mysterious mountain dwellers always remain in the shadow of Everest. Few people know that this people has incredible stamina and excellent altitude adaptation. They know the highest mountainous terrain better than anyone else and occupy the leading position in the number of ascents to Everest.
People from the East
In literal translation, "Sherp" means "a person from the east". Little is known about the history of this amazing people. They say that their ancestors were from Tibet, and Sherpas themselves have Mongolian roots. We can say that Sherpas are Tibetans. Mountain people speak a language that differs little from Tibetan. From their ancestors Sherpas adopted customs, clothing, and subtlety of cuisine. Today the concept of "Sherp" has become a household name. The Everest conqueror Tenzing Norgay in the autobiography Tiger of the Snows successfully described this people in several lines: "The boy looks up and sees a high mountain. Then he looks at the ground and sees the load. The boy quietly takes it and goes along with the burden on the mountain. To go along with the load is a habitual state of Sherpas. The burden is part of his body ... "Probably, that's why among tourists the concept of" Sherp "for many years is associated with a mountain guide or porter.
Features of mountain people
Sherpas are people who do not have written language. In days of the week they are guided by the Tibetan calendar. Mountain dwellers do not use surnames, and their names can vary throughout life. Sherpas, like their ancestors, are followers of Buddhism. However, they do not attach much importance to rituals, rituals, for them the main thing is faith in the soul. The mountain Nepali people pay special attention to prayers. Here, people believe in the gods and allocate a corner for prayer in the room of the house. Some families in the yards establish poles decorated with special flags. Deceased Sherpas burn, like Indians. Only children and people who died high in the mountains, surrender to the earth. In appearance, the mountain people practically do not differ from the Mongols. Look at how the Sherpas look. Photos of these amazing people are presented below.
Typical Sherpas Day
Nepalese mountain people rise very early - with the first rays of the sun. And immediately begin to work. The work of Sherpas is to carry the goods. They bring salt to Kathmandu, and wool is brought to Tibet. Sherpas are not afraid of steep slopes. They make a 10-hour journey each day with cargo uphill and back. At the same time they have a rest at 5 o'clock in the evening, when the sun sets. They stop at the inns by the stove-burzhuyki. There you can not only have a bite, but also get warm. Sherpas are an amazingly hardy people. They begin to work as porters at the age of 12. And at 14 - climb a new stage of the career ladder: become guides. This means that their daily burden becomes easier, and earnings increase from 7 to 15 dollars a day. Guides, unlike porters, can talk with foreigners, and in the future - be members of a group of climbers.
A family
Do families have Sherpa? Where do their children live? Let's try to find out these interesting moments. The Nepali mountain people are really starting families, consisting of a husband, wife and children. The distribution of roles in it is: the father works as a guide every day, and the mother is engaged in a house. As in many countries, the wife is cleaning the house, preparing food, raising children. In addition, many women still hold small kiosks, where chips and various drinks are sold. The Sherpas house is open to every tourist. It can be said that this is an inn for visiting visitors. It should be noted that Sherpas are honest. If the tourist asks them to look after their things, they will not refuse and will ensure their complete safety. But for this service they will want to receive a small monetary reward.
Kitchen features
The country of Sherpas attracts many travelers. Many people want to get acquainted with this amazing mountain people and taste their local cuisine. Sherpas in food are not fastidious. They do not follow a certain menu. On their table you can see meat dishes, dried foods and even canned food, which are left here by tourists. From traditional dishes, Sherpas cook mo-mo. The composition of the dish resembles a soup, in which dumplings are added. From drinks Sherpa love beer, which is made from rice and barley, and tea. Tea ceremonies are arranged several times a day.
High-mountainous genes
If you ask the Nepalese, where the Sherpas mostly live, they will answer without hesitation: "In the mountains." It was there that "people from the east" placed their homes. Tourists do not cease to repeat that the Sherpas have high genes: they are so hardy and patient. Rising all day up the mountain for a Sherpa - a natural phenomenon. He does not see anything surprising in this. Exquisite endurance is enjoyed by men, women and even children. The notion of "weak sex" among Sherpas does not exist. Here, women along with men carry heavy loads and carry out complex work. A burdensome load Sherpa quickly picked up and put it on the forehead. They believe that this is the most effective way to transfer weights over a long distance.
How to get to Sherpas?
In the mountains of Nepal , Sherpas live. Where do they live specifically and how to get there? The largest settlement of Sherpas is Namche Bazar, which is located 3880 meters above sea level (the southern Khumbu district). The road to the village of mountain people passes through the river valley of Dud Kosi. The path is narrow enough, not more than a meter, and it is clamped by sheer cliffs. On the way to the Sherpas there are hanging bridges that connect neighboring villages. If the path began to expand, then you are located near the village Namche Bazar. Here the homes of cheerful and hardworking Sherpas begin. It should be noted that the road to Namche-Bazar resembles a fascinating trek. River valley pleases travelers with picturesque landscapes. On the way to the Sherpas, tourists can see the majestic ice ridge that stretches between the peaks of Kariolung and Kangtayga.
The Conquest of Everest
It is known that "people from the East" have repeatedly climbed to the top of the famous mountain. For the first time Sherpas on Mount Everest appeared in 1953. It was then that New Zealand researcher Edmund Hillary and Sherp Norgay Tenzing could climb to the highest point of the earth. In honor of the accomplished feat, Hillary placed a flag on the mountain top, and Tenzing laid out chocolates in the snow to thank the gods for their support on the difficult road. Another sherp, Appa Tenzing, has repeatedly climbed Mount Everest. For the first time he accomplished this feat in 1990. Further, Tenzing climbed every year to the mountain top. The last time he did this in 2011, after which he became a true champion in mountaineering. Nobody could repeat his record - 21 ascent to Everest. Another Sherp surprised the whole world. Pemba Dorje was able to climb to the highest point of the earth in 8 hours and 10 minutes. And Sherp Babu Chiri went up to the mountain and spent 21 hours there. These records can not be repeated by the best climbers of the Earth. Sherpas deserve respect. Paradoxical as it may sound, Everest was able to conquer simple Tibetan porters and guides. And till now Sherpas continue to accompany tourist expeditions to the mountains. They do not stop working in dangerous conditions as guides, because this is the main source of their income. Only in this way can they support themselves and their families.