Dzongla, located at an elevation of approximately 4,850 meters, or 15,910 feet, is a rocky and remote counterpart to Thangnak in the east. It is an important resting place for hikers who come down from the Cho La Pass in the Gokyo Valley and a starting point for those seeking to reach the high peaks of the Everest glacial basin. Dzongla is not so much a town as a beautiful, risky mountaintop retreat. It sits on a beautiful moraine shelf with a view of the shrinking Chola Tsho Lake and the cliffs of Cholatse, Taboche, and Ama Dablam.
History and Importance
The history of Dzongla is relatively brief. Farmers didn't use it much, unlike Thangnak, because it was steep and open. The Three Passes Trek made it possible for it to exist. Once the Cho La crossing became a well-traveled path, there needed to be a safe place to rest on the east side to break down the long, difficult trip between Thangnak and Lobuche or Gorak Shep. A few simple cabins were built on this narrow cliff in the early 2000s to meet that need. Dzongla was built by trekkers, showing how modern adventure tourism can create towns in unlikely places.
The Trekking Experience
Arrival (from the Cho La)
For travelers coming down the pass, Dzongla appears like a beautiful, safe place after 7 to 9 hours of hard travel over ice and rock. Seeing its cabins on the ridge makes me feel better right away. The steep, rough drop from the pass hurts the knees, so Dzongla is needed as a rest stop.
Arrival (from Lobuche)
Dzongla is a tense, last outpost for people coming from the east to cross the Cho La to the west. The walk from Lobuche is shorter, but it is a steep, clearing-the-mind rise that goes above the Khumbu Glacier and makes the settlement's remoteness clearer.
Atmosphere
The mood is either one of shared success or shared worry, based on where people are going. The setting is very dramatic, but it seems like it could change or break at any moment. At night, the temperature drops, and the wind continues to howl across the shelf. The only social activity happens in the small, warm eating rooms where people share stories about the past.
Facilities
They are about the same as, or even less advanced than, Thangnak. Lodges are basic, chilly, and run on only a little solar power. Getting protection, hot food, and sleep is the most important thing. People often get water from ice that has melted.
The Landscape
The main thing that Dzongla does is help with logistics. It breaks up the long journey from Thangnak to Lobuche. It's also an opinion. Its lodges have one of the most stunning views of any hotel in the world. Chola Lake's blue remains are below, and the scary cliffs of Cholatse and Taboche fill the skyline. For hikers, it is also another starting point for getting to Lobuche Peak and Cholatse.
Lodging in Dzongla
- Options are extremely limited; typically, there are 2–3 lodges.
- Dzongla Resort
- Himalayan Lodge or Cho La View Lodge.
- New Lodge
In Conclusion
Dzongla is the perfect example of a high-Himalayan transit camp. The place is coldly beautiful and reflects nature's strength; it allows people to be there without welcoming them. A night in Dzongla is a remarkable part of a long but rewarding journey—a night spent holding on to a rocky ledge under some of the world's most impressive peaks. I felt small and deeply lucky to be a short guest in such an amazing place.
