The name comes from a group of people known as Sherpas who inhabit the high altitudes of the Himalayan region along the borders of Tibet and Nepal.
Approximately 500 years ago Sherpas are migrated from eastern Tibet to Nepal. The 2001 Nepal Census recorded 154,622 Sherpas in that country, of which 92.83% were Buddhists (Nyingmapa), 6.26% were Hindus, 0.63% were Christians and 0.20% were Bön.
In Tibetan language shyar means East and pa is a suffix meaning 'people' hence the word shyarpa or Sherpa. In recent years many Sherpas have migrated to India and other parts of world.
Most Sherpas live in the eastern regions of Nepal Solu, Khumbu or Pharak. However, some live farther west in the Rolwaling valley and in the Helambu region north of Kathmandu. Pangboche is the Sherpas' oldest village in Nepal, and is estimated to have been built over 300 years ago.
Sherpas speak their own Sherpa language which in many ways resembles a dialect of Tibetan.
The Jirels, native people of Jiri, are ethnically related to the Sherpas. It is said that the Jirels are descendants of a Sherpa mother and Sunuwar father.
In India, Sherpas also inhabit the towns of Darjeeling and Kalimpong and the Indian state of Sikkim
Observing a faith of non-violence, they do not slaughter animals. Agriculture, trade, yaks farming, and sheep rearing are their main sources of livelihood.
The Sherpas are famous as skilled guides and are well known for their endurance and talent in surviving and navigating through the difficult Himalayan terrain.
As heroic achievements are associated with dates 29 May 1953 is the day Sir Edmund Hillary and the late Mr. Tenzing Norgay Sherpa scaled Mt.Everest for the first time. Over the years, they have been crucial to the success of virtually every ascent of Mt. Everest.
Continuing in the Sherpas tradition, Sherpas are neither orthodox nor exclusive; they are very hospitable and welcome guests into their kitchens and places of worship.
Recently two Sherpas Pemba Dorjie and Lhakpa Gelu have competed as to who can climb Everest quicker.
On May 23rd 2003 Pemba Dorji summitted in 12 hours and 46 minutes.
On May 26th 2003 Lhakpa Gelu beat his record by two hours, summitting in 10 hours 46 minutes.
On May 21st 2004 Pemba Dorjie again improved the record by more than two hours with a total time of 8 hours and 10 minutes.
