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A hundred years ago, Namche Bazaar was a small Trading post where locals bartered Yak cheese and butter for food grown at lower altitudes. This changed after 1953, when Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay showed that Everest can be climbed. Other mountaineers and trekkers wanting to repeat Hillary and Norgays performance and who determines the Namche Bazaar en route to Everest and quickly develop Everest Base Camp, the town began to grow and prosper. Limitations of location up in the mountains has kept it from growing into a big city, but it is a bustling, lively place full of trekkers on route to Everest Base Camp. The first major settlement was at an altitude where acute Mountain sickness kicks in, it is popular acclimatisation stop. Although it is small, Namche Bazaar offers lots to while acclimatising.

Practical issues first. Namche Bazaar provides a Tibetan medical clinic (donations Welcome, since the clinic provides free treatment bearer and other low income for the local population), a dental clinic run by a Canadian qualified dentists, a post office (not 100% reliable), internet caf's and international telephone calling systems (both very expensive compared to Kathmandu) and money changing facilities. The latter is the last chance to change money before setting off to Everest Base Camp. rates, however, is very bad, so it is advisable to arrange all the money that changes in Kathmandu.

Market

A clue is in the name: Namche Bazaar has a bustling local market. Every Saturday morning, come to Namche Bazaar Sherpas from surrounding villages and peddle their goods on land above the main road to the city. Agricultural products and electronic dominates. While perhaps not trekkers, see pastries of particular interest, is the market an excellent window into daily life in the local population. A particular highlight is the Yak "area for parking"-but don't go too close to jakar, because they are known for their bad mood.

Museums

Namche Bazaar contains two museums which may be of interest to people at Everest Base Camp hikes: Museum and Museum of Sherpa life local medicinal plants and Tibetan herbal medicine. Sagarmatha National Park visitor's Center also displays photographs and information about the local wildlife.

Namche monastery

Outside the trail lies Thame, Namche monastery, a small Tibetan Buddhist monastery with a nice courtyard and beautiful frescoes.

Eat

The array of cuisine offered in Namche Bazaar, the receiving authority even the most ravenous Everest Base Camp Next. Bakeries are known, especially for their pastries, while traditional Sherpa dishes such as the rigi kur (potato pancakes), tzen (a heavy pat of millet and spices) and thukpa (noodles in a soup) are widely available. All kinds of other foods are available, including Western dishes.

Jude Limburn Turner is Marketing Manager for the Mountain Kingdoms, an adventure tour company that ran the Everest Base Camp trekking itineraries for over 20 years. They are now offering tours and trips worldwide, including destinations in North and South America, Europe, Africa, and Central and South-East Asia.