Born Namgyal Wangdi in the Khumbu region, Nepal
Tenzing Norgay
DeceasedAlso known as Namgyal Wangdi, Sherpa Tenzing, Tiger of the Snows
First person, alongside Sir Edmund Hillary, confirmed to reach the summit of Mount Everest, on 29 May 1953
About
Tenzing Norgay’s early life is recorded with some inconsistency across sources. Accounts differ on whether he was born in Nepal’s Khumbu region or in Tibet’s Kharta Valley. Historians still debate this point.
As a teenager, he ran away from home. He eventually settled in Darjeeling. There, he built a mountaineering career as a porter. His historic 1953 climb made him a global icon. People celebrated him as a hero, across Nepal and India. Today, people remember him as a defining figure of Himalayan mountaineering.
Quick facts
- Born
- 1914-05-15
- Birthplace
- Khumbu, Nepal
- Profession
- Mountaineer, Sherpa guide
- Nationality
- Nepal
- Status
- Deceased
- Died
- 1986-05-09
Previous roles
Director of Field Training
Himalayan Mountaineering Institute · 1954
Career & life timeline
- 1914-05-15
- 1935
First joined a British Everest reconnaissance expedition as a porter
- 1952
Reached a then-record altitude of 8,600m on Mount Everest with Raymond Lambert
- 1953-05-29
Reached the summit of Mount Everest with Edmund Hillary, the first confirmed ascent
- 1954
Became Director of Field Training at the newly founded Himalayan Mountaineering Institute in Darjeeling
- 1986-05-09
Died in Darjeeling, India
Achievements
First confirmed ascent of Mount Everest, alongside Sir Edmund Hillary
1953Named one of Time magazine's 100 Most Important People of the 20th Century
Awards & honours
George Medal
Organizations & affiliations
- Himalayan Mountaineering Institute
Last updated: 2026-09-02