Myagdi. It has been 74 years since the first ascent of the Annapurna mountain located in Myagdi, where the history of Nepal’s mountaineering tourism is linked.
The route and base camp for climbing Annapurna mountain, which is about 1,000 and 91 meters high on the border of Myagdi, Kaski, Manang and Mustang districts, is located in Annapurna Rural Municipality-4 Narchang, Myagdi. Annapurna is called the oldest mountain due to the fact that the first human footstepped over 8,000 meters. On June 3, 1950, three years after the French team of Maurice Herzog and Louis Lachenal reached the summit of Annapurna, the world’s highest peak, Mount Everest, was successfully climbed.
Navin Pokharel, Head of Tourism Board Gandaki Provincial Office, said that the Annapurna Climbing Day will be celebrated today with various programs as a reminder of the day that the mountain was introduced to the world as an auspicious occasion for the development of tourism and mountaineering in Nepal.
He said that the Annapurna climbing by Hargoz’s team has made Nepal’s mountain climbing internationalization, so the day is going to be celebrated with importance. Bharatkumar Pun, Chairman of Annapurna Rural Municipality of Myagdi, said that on the occasion of the 74th anniversary of the Annapurna climb, the first mountaineer, Herzog, is going to be made a salik and placed in the base camp.
Under the leadership of Tej Gurung of Narchang, the fact and trail of Annapurna Himal and base camp Myagdi were identified in 2068. The trail has been named ‘Maurice Herzog’ by Annapurna Rural Municipality.
Annapurna Tourism Festival was organized by the rural municipality in 2077 at Narchang, which is the entry point of the trail, to promote the trail. The two local levels of Kaski and Myagdi have been named after the Annapurna Himal. The Annapurna Cycle Trail, which spans the Annapurna Himal, is considered a world-famous trail.
Krishna Acharya, vice president of Trekking Agencies Association (TAN) Gandaki, said that the book written by Maurice containing the experience of climbing Annapurna has contributed significantly in exposing Nepal’s mountaineering tourism to the global market.
On the occasion of the 74th Annapurna Climbing Day, Nepal Tourism Board Gandaki Provincial Office organized a walk of ambassadors from nine countries in Nepal from Dhampus of Machapuchche Rural Municipality of Kaski to Astam on Sunday.
In the ceremony to be held today in Pokhara, a program has been scheduled to honor mountaineers Poornima Shrestha, Dawa Yongzom Sherpa and Lakpa Dendi Sherpa who climbed the Annapurna mountain. Pokharel, head of Tourism Board Gandaki, said that original songs and dances reflecting the cultural diversity of Gandaki province will be performed in the program.
The Annapurna Century Tourism Committee has organized a marathon competition from the Annapurna base camp to Ghandruk in Kaski. Chairman Dharma Panthi said that Tan Gandaki has organized a walk on the ‘View Fewa Round Fewa’ trail in Pokhara today.