Gorkha, September 17
Autumn climbing on Mount Manaslu has begun, with 466 climbers from various countries who obtained permits for the season starting their ascent from the base camp on Tuesday.
A total of 342 men and 124 women from 39 teams have set off from the base camp to climb the 8,163-metre mountain.
According to climber support staff Bis Bahadur Gurung, a Lama performed a traditional puja at the base camp before the climbers began their ascent.
Gurung said the climbers are expected to complete their summit attempts within the next two to three weeks.
The Department of Tourism said the government has collected Rs 212.448 million in revenue from Manaslu climbing permits this season.
Both the number of climbers attempting Manaslu and the revenue generated from climbing permits are the highest recorded so far.
Manaslu, located in Samagaun of Chumnubri Rural Municipality-1 in Gorkha district, was first successfully climbed on May 9, 1956.
Standing at 8,163 metres above sea level, Manaslu is the eighth-highest mountain in the world.
