The house is dilapidated but not beyond repair; Pertemba Sherpa has started to stabilise the walls and roof beams already. As his neighbours re-roofed he availed himself of some traditional building materials. However some of the beams and rafters will soon start to cave in and floor and window timbers need replacing urgently.
The upper floors can be restored to showcase their original uses, although this will call for better lighting. The ground floor rooms, formerly used for livestock and storage, can display exhibitions of traditional Sherpa life.
The Religious Wing : At ground level, this huge building stabled
the ponies which carried goods through the mountain passes to and from Tibet; throughout
history the Sherpas have been a trading people. Here also fodder was stored to see
the ponies through the harsh winter months.
more
The Living Quaters : In this the greater of the buildings, yaks
were kept at ground level. Upstairs, their milk was churned into butter for tea,
their hair knitted into clothing and their meat and cheese was preserved. more