19 Baishakh, Gorkha – On Baishakh 26, or May 9, the 70th anniversary of the first ascent of Manaslu Mountain was commemorated. On May 9, 1956, Urken Chiring Sherpa and Japanese climber Toshio Imanishi successfully reached the summit of Manaslu for the first time. Standing at 8,163 meters, the world’s eighth highest peak, the 70th anniversary of this remarkable feat is being celebrated with various programs.
The Chumanuvri Rural Municipality, in coordination with the Nepal Tourism Board, Manaslu Conservation Area Project (MCAP), and various tourism organizations, is organizing the commemorative events. According to a press conference held on Friday, the program will take place in Samagaun Village located at the base of Manaslu. The chairperson of the rural municipality, Nima Lama, announced that statues of the first climbers along with those of other notable mountaineers will be unveiled. “We have created statues of the climbers,” she stated. “These statues will be inaugurated during the program.”
The event will also include a ceremony honoring the climbers. Cultural performances reflecting the traditions and heritage of northern Gorkha will be showcased. On Baishakh 27 (May 10), a documentary related to the first successful ascent of Manaslu, accompanied by photographs, will be screened in Pokhara. Additionally, the inauguration of a 3D model of Manaslu, recently constructed at the International Mountain Museum in Pokhara, will also take place.
