Thame (Nepali: थामे) and its neighbouring Thameteng (upper Thame) are small Sherpa villages in Namche VDC of the Solukhumbu District in Nepal. These were the last year-round villages on the salt trading route that existed between Tibet, Nepal and India. Thame is home to many famous Sherpa mountaineers, including Apa Sherpa.

Thame
थामे
Village
Thame in snow
Thame in snow
Map
Coordinates: 27°49′52″N 86°39′00″E / 27.831°N 86.65°E / 27.831; 86.65
Country   Nepal
ProvinceKoshi
DistrictSolukhumbu
Time zoneUTC 5:45 (NST)

History

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Apa Sherpa previously held the world record for summiting Mount Everest 21 times. Kami Rita Sherpa who has scaled the mountain 28 times as of 23 May 2023 currently holds the record.[1] It was also a childhood home of Tenzing Norgay, who was, with Sir Edmund Hillary, one of the first men to climb Mount Everest. It is also where the famous Lama Zopa Rinpoche, the Lawudo Lama, head of the FPMT, was born. The Thame monastery is one of the oldest in the Khumbu region, and is famous for the annual Mani Rimdu festival.

In October 1995, a small hydro power plant was opened near Thame, with an installed capacity of 600 kW. It is operated by the Khumbu Bijuli Company.[2][3][4]

On 16 August 2024, the village was inundated by a glacial lake outburst flood that destroyed at least 15 structures.[5]

References

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  1. ^ Gurubacharya, Binaj (23 May 2023). "Sherpa guide Kami Rita scales Mount Everest for a record 28th time". AP News. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
  2. ^ "SMALL HYDROPOWER PLANT NAMCHE BAZAR". Project period: 1985 - 1993. Posch & Partner GmbH.
  3. ^ "Small Hydro-power Station Thame - Namche Bazar/Sagarmatha National Park". EcoHimal.
  4. ^ "Khumbu Bijuli Company".
  5. ^ "Himalayan village in Nepal hit by icy floods". BBC. 17 August 2024.