Kathmandu: This year’s autumn season has seen a surge in climbers obtaining permits for mountaineering, including for Mount Manaslu and various other peaks. According to the Department of Tourism, so far, a total of 132 individuals, consisting of 34 women and 38 men from 12 climbing groups, have been granted mountaineering permits for this season.
As per the data from the Department’s Mountaineering Section, the highest number of permits have been issued for Mount Manaslu, with 120 climbers—32 women and 88 men—across 10 groups. Climbers from 31 countries, including Nepal, have been granted permits to climb three different peaks. Mount Manaslu, also known as the “Killer Mountain,” standing at 8,163 meters, has become increasingly popular among climbers in recent times. Once again, the highest number of permits this season has been issued for Mount Manaslu.
Autumn is considered the ideal season for climbing Mount Manaslu, which attracts a significant number of climbers every year during this period. Manaslu is the eighth highest peak in the world and the seventh highest in Nepal. On May 9, 1956, Japanese climber Toshio Imanishi and Nepali climber Gyalzen Norbu Sherpa successfully summited Mount Manaslu. Two days later, on May 11, Japanese climbers Norbu Higeta and Kichiro Kato also climbed the peak. Additionally, on May 18, 1956, Swiss climbers Hans Reiss and Fritz Luchsinger reached the summit of Mount Manaslu.
Furthermore, the Department mentioned that a group of seven climbers has received permits to climb Putha Hiunchuli, while another group of five climbers has been granted permits for Annapurna IV. For this season, a total royalty of NPR 13,096,264 has been deposited into the government’s account from mountaineering fees.