Manaslu marks 70 years of first ascent, celebrates historic legacy

KATHMANDU: Manaslu, the world’s eighth-highest and Nepal’s seventh-highest mountain, has completed 70 years since its first successful ascent, marking a significant milestone in Himalayan mountaineering history.

According to the Department of Tourism, a total of 3,643 climbers have successfully reached the summit since expeditions began on the 8,163-meter peak.

The mountain was first climbed on May 9, 1956, when Japanese climber Toshio Imanishi and Sherpa guide Gyalzen Norbu successfully reached the summit, making the first human contact with the peak.

Decades later, on April 22, 1973, Urken Tsering Sherpa became the first Nepali climber to successfully summit Manaslu.

To commemorate the 70th anniversary of mountaineering on Manaslu, special programs were recently held in Gorkha and Pokhara.

The events were jointly organized by the Nepal Mountaineering Association and the Manaslu Conservation Area Project, in coordination with Chumnubri Rural Municipality.

During the ceremony, statues of first ascenders Toshio Imanishi and Urken Tsering Sherpa were unveiled in honor of their pioneering achievements.

Family members of the climbers, including Kunio Imanishi and Rsoyuke Imanishi, were present and honored alongside Urken Tsering Sherpa’s son, Chhiring Sherpa.

The Chief Minister of Gandaki Province, Surendra Raj Pandey, along with local representatives, felicitated the guests with certificates and traditional shawls.

Locals and descendants of pioneering climbers from Samagaun, located at the base of Manaslu, including Mingmar Chhiring Lama, were also honored during the event.

In a parallel program held in Pokhara, the Nepal Mountaineering Association unveiled a 3D photographic model of Mount Manaslu, highlighting the mountain’s rich climbing history and growing significance in global mountaineering tourism.