Nine Ambassadors to Trek Annapurna in Honor of Historic Ascent

On the 74th anniversary of Maurice Herzog’s historic ascent of Annapurna I, ambassadors from nine countries are set to embark on a trek in the Annapurna Rural Municipality of Kaski. This significant event commemorates Herzog’s first steps on the formidable peak.

The Nepal Tourism Board’s Gandaki Province Office has organized this trek, which will see the envoys and high-ranking officials of foreign missions journey from Dhampus to Astam via Dhital on Sunday. The participating countries include the USA, UK, India, China, Israel, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Thailand, and Malaysia.

The event is part of the annual programme for the fiscal year 2023/2024, marking Annapurna Day with special celebrations on Sunday and Monday. The festivities in Pokhara, the capital of Gandaki Province, will be mirrored by commemorations in Annapurna Rural Municipality in Myagdi, highlighting the multiple routes from Kaski and Myagdi that lead to the Annapurna Himal.

Naveen Pokharel, head of the Tourism Board Gandaki, announced that a statue of Maurice Herzog, created by Annapurna Rural Municipality, will be unveiled in Pokhara and later placed at Annapurna Base Camp in Myagdi. This tribute underscores Herzog’s legacy in mountaineering history.

A press conference held to provide details about Annapurna Day revealed that Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Narayan Kaji Shrestha, Foreign Secretary Seva Lamsal, and the aforementioned ambassadors will participate in the ceremony.

Additionally, three renowned mountaineers—Purnima Shrestha, Dawa Yangzum Sherpa, and Lakpa Dendi Sherpa—who have successfully summited Annapurna, will be honored. They will also share their climbing experiences, enriching the event with their firsthand accounts.

The celebration is conducted in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, supported by Pokhara Metropolitan City and the Gandaki Provincial Government. Distinguished guests will be treated to a boating experience on Phewa Lake and a cable car ride to Sarangkot.

Looking ahead, the 75th Annapurna Day next year will feature the release of a Nepali translation of Maurice Herzog’s renowned book “Annapurna,” and Herzog’s wife will be invited to the ceremony, as announced by Pokharel.

Pokharel emphasized the importance of Annapurna Day for Nepal’s mountaineering and tourism sector. “We remember the day that marked the development of the tourism sector and the beginning of mountaineering, introducing our mountains to the world,” he said. He added that the event aims to promote the entire Gandaki Province and Nepal’s mountain tourism on the global stage.

This commemoration not only celebrates a historic mountaineering feat but also aims to enhance Nepal’s visibility as a premier destination for adventure tourism.