Nepedia
Back to Discover
Fluent Reader
📖

Tenzing Norgay

sports Maturity 7-9 death dying Next article →

This article covers sensitive topics: death_dying. Parents can manage visibility in Parental Controls.

Tenzing Norgay was a famous Sherpa mountaineer who changed history.

Edmund Hillary & Sherpa Tenzing
Edmund Hillary & Sherpa Tenzing

He was one of the most influential people of the 20th century. People loved him for his great skill and his kind smile. He was a Buddhist, which is a traditional religion for Sherpas. The name Tenzing Norgay means "wealthy-fortunate-follower-of-religion." He is best known for reaching the highest point on Earth.

This amazing feat brought him pride and fame all over the world.

Climbing a giant mountain is a very hard job. Tenzing worked as a high-altitude porter for many years. A porter is a person who carries heavy gear for a team. In 1953, he joined a large British expedition led by John Hunt. This team had over 400 people working together. Tenzing and his partner, Edmund Hillary, had to move through snow and wind. They used ice axes to help them climb through firm snow.

They even had to climb a steep rock face called the Hillary Step.

There are many stories about where Tenzing was born. Some say he was born in Tengboche, Nepal. Other accounts say he was born in the Kama Valley in Tibet. He grew up in a place called Thame. His father, Ghang La Mingma, was a yak herder. His mother, Dokmo Kinzom, lived to see his great success. Tenzing was the 11th child in a large family of 13.

House of Tenzing Norgay in Darjeeling
House of Tenzing Norgay in Darjeeling

He once even lived in a monastery to become a monk.

On May 29, 1953, Tenzing and Hillary reached the summit of Mount Everest.

Edmund Hillary & Sherpa Tenzing
Edmund Hillary & Sherpa Tenzing

They arrived at the very top at 11:30 a.m. Tenzing left some chocolates in the snow as an offering. Hillary left a small cross behind as well. They only stayed at the top for about 15 minutes. Because they were a team, they reached the peak together.

Tenzing received the George Medal for his brave work on this trip.

After his big climb, Tenzing stayed busy in the mountains. He became the first Director of Field Training at the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute.

Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, Darjeeling in 2011
Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, Darjeeling in 2011

He also started his own company called Tenzing Norgay Adventures. He even helped lead the first American tourists into Bhutan. His son, Jamling Tenzing Norgay, followed in his footsteps. Jamling also reached the summit of Everest in 1996.

Tenzing Norgay memorial
Tenzing Norgay memorial

Tenzing's life shows how much one person can achieve through hard work.

391 words

Where will your curiosity go next?

Keep exploring at your chosen reading level.

🖼️ Images & Media (6)
File:Statue of Tenzing Norgay at Himalayan Mountaineering Institute.jpg
Statue of Tenzing Norgay at Himalayan...
File:Everest North Face toward Base Camp Tibet Luca Galuzzi 2006 edit 1.jpg
Everest North Face toward Base Camp Tibet...
File:Edmund Hillary & Sherpa Tenzing.jpg
Edmund Hillary & Sherpa Tenzing.jpg
File:Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, Darjeeling in 2011.jpg
Himalayan Mountaineering Institute,...
File:House of Tenzing Norgay in Darjeeling.jpg
House of Tenzing Norgay in Darjeeling.jpg
File:Tenzing Norgay memorial.jpg
Tenzing Norgay memorial.jpg
More to explore

What is Nepedia?

A free, ad-free encyclopedia for children. Every article is written at five reading levels, so the same page works for a five-year-old and a fifteen-year-old — use the level switcher above to see this one change. No account needed to read.