Jiri
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jiri (जिरी) is a town in Dolkha District in eastern Nepal. Jiri lies at an altitude of 1,905 metres (6,250 feet) and is the eastern-most terminus of the highway coming from Kathmandu. Bus service is available from Kathmandu but the 176 km ride takes 6 to 8 hours due to narrow, winding roads and checkpoints along the high-way. A company of the Royal Nepalese Army is stationed in town and visitors' equipment and backpacks may be searched. There are a number of lodges available along either side of the main road.
As the closest roadhead, Jiri is now the trailhead for many treks into the Mount Everest region. The trek to Lukla will take seven or eight days. Few people actually begin a trek from Jiri anymore, as only 5% of all trekkers who attempt the difficult trek to Everest Base Camp start at Jiri. The other 95% choose to fly into the small airstrip at Lukla, thus cutting off a week of difficult but beautiful trekking.
Although the trailhead from Jiri into Sagarmatha National Park is referred to as the 'classic route to Everest', the original trailhead actually began at Kathmandu. All early Everest expeditions - including the one led by John Hunt that put Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary on the summit - passed through Jiri.
Jiri is the home of an ethnic group called the Jirels.
