KATHMANDU – A total of 648 mountaineers from 69 countries have obtained permits to climb various mountains in Nepal during the upcoming autumn season.
According to the Department of Tourism, permits were granted to 648 mountaineers from 69 countries to scale 20 different peaks in the country. The permits cover 71 groups, comprising 485 men and 163 women, the Department’s Information Officer Suraj Ghimire said.
The mountaineers receiving permits include 17 from Australia, 16 from Canada, 21 from Japan, 18 from India, 41 from the USA, 38 from the UK, 15 from Spain, 13 from Switzerland, 57 from Russia, 19 from Poland, 20 from Nepal and 118 from China.
Additionally, the Department reported that mountaineers from Germany (34), France (51), Belgium (7), Bulgaria (5), the Czech Republic (16), and Argentina (7), among others, have also acquired climbing permits.
The Department collected a total of US$1,571,659, equivalent to Rs 238,964,298, in royalties from the mountaineers for issuing the permits.
Among the peaks for which permits were granted, Mount Manaslu (8,163 metres) attracted the highest number of climbers, with 500 mountaineers across 43 teams obtaining permits for Manaslu alone.
Climbing permits have been issued to 34 climbers across four teams for Dhaulagiri I, 20 climbers across two teams for Putha Hiunchuli, 16 climbers across two teams for Danga Hiunchuli, and 10 climbers in one team for Baruntse Himal.
Similarly, the Department stated that permits have been granted for peaks including Makalu, Gangapurna West (Langchenel), Thorong Peak, Norbu Khang, Annapurna IV, Chamlang, Lamjung Himal, Pumori, Saribung, Thapa Peak (Dhampus), Pokhar Khang, Ardang and Peri.
The Department has generated revenue from the climbing permits issued for these mountains