The Mantra (Taboche Peak with stupa and prayer flags)

This night time exposure of a stupa and prayer flags under Taboche peak, above the village of Dingboche, Nepal, was taken on the way to Everest base camp for a story about Sherpas climbers and culture for National Geographic magazine. In the Khumbu you cannot avoid ceremony. Even if you wanted to, the air is full of prayers and sacred smoke that goes into your lungs and cleans you out without permission. You are blessed just for having walked there. “Om Mani Padme Hum, Om Mani Padme Hum, Om Mani Padme Hum... " Those words are carved into thousands of Mani stones and prayer wheels along the trail to Everest Base Camp, and sometimes it is written on paper and put inside the prayer wheel...View all