Kathmandu Metropolis Honours Mountaineers

The Kathmandu Metropolitan City has honoured national and foreign mountaineers who have summited Mt Makalu and Mt Kanchanjanga at different times.

More than 20 climbers were honoured at a special programme organised at Narayanhiti Museum in the Capital on Saturday on the occasion of the diamond jubilee of the first ascent of Mt Makalu and Mt Kanchanjanga.

The first ascent of Mt Makalu was accomplished on May 15, 1955 and Mt Kanchanjanga on May 25 the same year.

Kanchanjanga (8,586 metres) is the third highest mountain in the world while Makalu (8,463 metres) is the fifth highest mountain.

Speaking at the programme, Suresh Raj Acharya, acting Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, expressed hope that that the diamond jubilee celebrations would help promote Nepal in the global tourism market.

Jay Narayan Acharya, director general at the Department of Tourism, said that the diamond jubilee festival would be useful in disseminating the message that Nepal is safe for mountaineering. Similarly, KMC Acting Chief Executive Officer Sanat Kumar Thapa and Nepal Mountaineering Association Chairman Ang Chhiring Sherpa also said that the event would help promote Nepali tourism.

Speaking at the function, Frits Vrijlandt, president of Union of International Alpine Association, expressed concern about rapid melting of snow on the mountains that could turn peaks into barren rocks. Earlier in the morning, a rally was organised from Tundikhel to Narayanhiti Museum to mark the occasion. National and international mountaineers and tourism entrepreneurs participated in the rally.