Tenzing Norgay - Nepalese Mountaineers, Family and Family
Tenzing Norgay's Personal Details
Tenzing Norgay was a Nepalese Indian mountaineer who was one of the first two individuals to set foot on the summit of Mount Everest.
| Information | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birthday | May 29, 1914 |
| Died on | May 9, 1986 |
| Nationality | Nepali |
| Famous | Miscellaneous, Mountaineers, Nepalese Mountaineers |
| Hobbies | Beekeeper |
| Spouses | Ang Lahmu, Dakku Norgay, Dawa Phuti |
| Known as | Namgyal Wangdi, Sherpa Tenzing, Tenzing Norkey |
| Childrens | Deki Tenzing Norgay, Dhamey Tenzing Norgay, Jamling Tenzing Norgay, Nima Dorje Norgay, Nima Norgay, Norbu Tenzing Norgay, Pem Pem Norgay |
| Founder / Co-Founder |
|
| Birth Place | Khumbu |
| Religion | Buddhism |
| Gender | Male |
| Father | Ghang La Mingma |
| Mother | Dokmo Kinzom |
| Sun Sign | Gemini |
| Born in | Khumbu |
| Famous as | Mountaineer |
| Died at Age | 71 |
Tenzing Norgay's photo
Who is Tenzing Norgay?
Tenzing Norgay was a Nepalese Indian mountaineer who was one of the first two individuals to set foot on the summit of Mount Everest. He, along with Edmund Hillary of New Zealand, was a part of the team that took part in John Hunt's 1953 British Mount Everest Expedition. Led by Colonel John Hunt, it was the ninth British mountaineering expedition to attempt the first ascent of Mount Everest. Several other expeditions had been unsuccessful previously, and the team was hoping for success this time. Proper planning and favorable weather conditions ensured that the expedition was indeed a success and Norgay and Hillary became the first individuals to reach the hitherto unconquerable summit of Mount Everest. For Norgay, setting foot on the summit of Mount Everest was the culmination of his long cherished, lifelong dream. Beginning his career as a mountaineer as a part of the reconnaissance expedition in 1935, he had participated in many such expeditions over the course of years, including an unsuccessful Everest expedition. His life changed dramatically after he created history in 1953 by setting foot on the summit of Mount Everest and he received many international honors for achieving this feat. He eventually went on to found Tenzing Norgay Adventures, a company providing trekking adventures in the Himalayas
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Childhood & Early Life
The exact facts about Tenzing Norgay’s birth and early life are unclear. It is generally believed that he was born as Namgyal Wangdi in May 1914 in Tengboche, Khumbu in northeastern Nepal to Ghang La Mingma, a yak herder, and his wife, Dokmo Kinzom. He was one of the 13 children born to his parents.
His exact date of birth is not known. But since he accomplished his historic ascent of Everest on 29 May, he decided to celebrate his birthday on that day thereafter.
His birth name was changed to “Tenzing Norgay” on the advice of the head lama, Ngawang Tenzin Norbu.
He was adventurous from a young age and ran away from his home twice as a teenager. He eventually settled in the Sherpa community in Too Song Bhusti in Darjeeling.
Career
Tenzing Norgay started working as a porter and was employed by Eric Shipton to accompany him on the reconnaissance expedition in 1935. He was just 20 years old at that time and this was his first chance to join an Everest expedition.
Over the next few years he took part in many other expeditions. He joined three British attempts to climb Everest as a high-altitude porter in the 1930s. He also worked with John Morris on the 1936 expedition and was also a part of other climbs all over the Indian subcontinent.
He went to Darjeeling during the partition of India in 1947 and took part in an unsuccessful summit attempt of Everest the same year. It was a very fruitful year for him and he participated in several expeditions and climbed Kedarnath peak in the western Garhwal.
In 1950 and 1951, he had been a part of a US and British reconnaissance expeditions. He took part in two Swiss expeditions led by Edouard Wyss-Dunant and Gabriel Chevalley respectively in 1952.
Along with Raymond Lambert, he was able to reach a height of about 8,595 metres (28,199 ft) on the southeast ridge during the Swiss expedition in 1952, setting a new record. This expedition was an emotional one and he forged a lifelong friendship with Lambert and other members of the expedition.
In 1953 he joined John Hunt's expedition to Everest. The expedition was a meticulously planned one, with over 400 people and 10,000 lbs of baggage. On the morning of 29 May, he along with his climbing partner, Edmund Hillary, reached the summit, creating history.
Tenzing Norgay became a hero following the achievement of this feat and was catapulted to international fame. An unassuming and simple man, he found it difficult to adjust to this sudden adulation though he managed gracefully.
Later on, he became the first Field Director of the newly-established Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, a post that he held for 22 years.
In 1978, he founded Tenzing Norgay Adventures a company providing trekking adventures in the Himalayas.
Major Works
Tenzing Norgay, along with mountaineer Edmund Hillary, became the first person to set foot on the summit of Mount Everest on 29 May 1953. Several mountaineers on previous expeditions had attempted the feat unsuccessfully, and thus he became a celebrity for having successfully accomplished this tremendous feat.
Awards & Achievements
The Himalayan Club awarded Tenzing Norgay its Tiger Medal for high-altitude work in 1938.
King Tribhuvan of Nepal presented him with the Order of the Star of Nepal, 1st Class (Supradipta-Manyabara-Nepal-Tara) in 1953.
He received the Padma Bhushan, the third highest civilian award of India from the Government of India in 1959.
He was also the recipient of the Special Olympic medal and Hubbard Medal of the National Geographic Society.
Personal Life & Legacy
His first marriage was to Dawa Phuti, a Sherpa girl living in Darjeeling, when he was 19. This marriage produced three children. His wife unfortunately died in 1944.
He tied the knot for the second time with Ang Lahmu, another Sherpa girl, a year after his first wife’s death. Ang, who was a cousin of Dawa Phuti, became a foster-mother to his children from his first marriage. His second wife died in 1964.
His third marriage was to Daku. She bore him three sons and one daughter.
Tenzing Norgay died of a cerebral hemorrhage on 9 May 1986, in Darjeeling, India, at the age of 71
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Tenzing Norgay biography timelines
- // 29th May 1914 To 9th May 1986The exact facts about Tenzing Norgay’s birth and early life are unclear. It is generally believed that he was born as Namgyal Wangdi in May 1914 in Tengboche, Khumbu in northeastern Nepal to Ghang La Mingma, a yak herder, and his wife, Dokmo Kinzom. He was one of the 13 children born to his parents.
- // 1935Tenzing Norgay started working as a porter and was employed by Eric Shipton to accompany him on the reconnaissance expedition in 1935. He was just 20 years old at that time and this was his first chance to join an Everest expedition.
- // 1936Over the next few years he took part in many other expeditions. He joined three British attempts to climb Everest as a high-altitude porter in the 1930s. He also worked with John Morris on the 1936 expedition and was also a part of other climbs all over the Indian subcontinent.
- // 1938The Himalayan Club awarded Tenzing Norgay its Tiger Medal for high-altitude work in 1938.
- // 1944His first marriage was to Dawa Phuti, a Sherpa girl living in Darjeeling, when he was 19. This marriage produced three children. His wife unfortunately died in 1944.
- // 1947He went to Darjeeling during the partition of India in 1947 and took part in an unsuccessful summit attempt of Everest the same year. It was a very fruitful year for him and he participated in several expeditions and climbed Kedarnath peak in the western Garhwal.
- // 1950 To 1952In 1950 and 1951, he had been a part of a US and British reconnaissance expeditions. He took part in two Swiss expeditions led by Edouard Wyss-Dunant and Gabriel Chevalley respectively in 1952.
- // 1952Along with Raymond Lambert, he was able to reach a height of about 8,595 metres (28,199 ft) on the southeast ridge during the Swiss expedition in 1952, setting a new record. This expedition was an emotional one and he forged a lifelong friendship with Lambert and other members of the expedition.
- // 1953In 1953 he joined John Hunt's expedition to Everest. The expedition was a meticulously planned one, with over 400 people and 10,000 lbs of baggage. On the morning of 29 May, he along with his climbing partner, Edmund Hillary, reached the summit, creating history.
- // 1953King Tribhuvan of Nepal presented him with the Order of the Star of Nepal, 1st Class (Supradipta-Manyabara-Nepal-Tara) in 1953.
- // 29th May 1953Tenzing Norgay, along with mountaineer Edmund Hillary, became the first person to set foot on the summit of Mount Everest on 29 May 1953. Several mountaineers on previous expeditions had attempted the feat unsuccessfully, and thus he became a celebrity for having successfully accomplished this tremendous feat.
- // 1959He received the Padma Bhushan, the third highest civilian award of India from the Government of India in 1959.
- // 1964He tied the knot for the second time with Ang Lahmu, another Sherpa girl, a year after his first wife’s death. Ang, who was a cousin of Dawa Phuti, became a foster-mother to his children from his first marriage. His second wife died in 1964.
- // 1978In 1978, he founded Tenzing Norgay Adventures a company providing trekking adventures in the Himalayas.
- // 9th May 1986Tenzing Norgay died of a cerebral hemorrhage on 9 May 1986, in Darjeeling, India, at the age of 71
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Tenzing Norgay's FAQ
What is Tenzing Norgay birthday?
Tenzing Norgay was born at 1914-05-29
When was Tenzing Norgay died?
Tenzing Norgay was died at 1986-05-09
Where was Tenzing Norgay died?
Tenzing Norgay was died in Darjeeling
Which age was Tenzing Norgay died?
Tenzing Norgay was died at age 71
Where is Tenzing Norgay's birth place?
Tenzing Norgay was born in Khumbu
What is Tenzing Norgay nationalities?
Tenzing Norgay's nationalities is Nepali
What is Tenzing Norgay hobbies?
Tenzing Norgay's hobbies is Beekeeper
Who is Tenzing Norgay spouses?
Tenzing Norgay's spouses is Ang Lahmu, Dakku Norgay, Dawa Phuti
Who is Tenzing Norgay childrens?
Tenzing Norgay's childrens is Deki Tenzing Norgay, Dhamey Tenzing Norgay, Jamling Tenzing Norgay, Nima Dorje Norgay, Nima Norgay, Norbu Tenzing Norgay, Pem Pem Norgay
Which company or organization was founded by Tenzing Norgay?
Tenzing Norgay was the founder/co-founder of Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, Himalayan Trust
What is Tenzing Norgay's religion?
Tenzing Norgay's religion is Buddhism
Who is Tenzing Norgay's father?
Tenzing Norgay's father is Ghang La Mingma
Who is Tenzing Norgay's mother?
Tenzing Norgay's mother is Dokmo Kinzom
What is Tenzing Norgay's sun sign?
Tenzing Norgay is Gemini
How famous is Tenzing Norgay?
Tenzing Norgay is famouse as Mountaineer