The 69th anniversary of the first successful ascent of Mt. Manaslu (8,163 meters), Nepal’s seventh-highest and the world’s eighth-highest peak, was commemorated with a series of programs on Friday and Saturday. The events were organized by the Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal (TAAN) Gandaki Chapter, with support from the Nepal Tourism Board’s Gandaki Province Office.
Manaslu Mountain
The celebration took place in Paslang village of Gorkha Municipality-5, focusing on promoting homestays and rural tourism. TAAN Gandaki President Krishna Acharya stated that the anniversary was marked for the first time directly in Gorkha, emphasizing local engagement in tourism development.
Mt. Manaslu was first summited on May 9, 1956, by Japanese climber Toshio Imanishi and Nepali climber Gyalzen Norbu Sherpa. Since then, this date has been observed annually as Manaslu Ascent Day.
Speaking at the event, Gorkha Municipality Mayor Krishna Bahadur Rana highlighted that although Gorkha is rich in religious, cultural, and natural heritage, tourism plays a vital role in its development. Deputy Mayor Sapana Pun urged tourism entrepreneurs to encourage both domestic and international tourists visiting Pokhara to also explore Gorkha. She emphasized that promoting treks to Manaslu and Larke Pass could significantly contribute to the economic prosperity of the province and the nation.
Pun also pointed out that while improved road connectivity has made the Annapurna Circuit more accessible, some tourists opting for the Manaslu and Tsum Valley treks still bypass Gorkha by entering via Malekhu and Arughat in Dhading, which has overshadowed Gorkha’s tourism prospects.
Mani Raj Lamichhane, Chief of the Nepal Tourism Board Gandaki Province Office in Pokhara, revealed that discussions are underway with the Embassy of Japan to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Manaslu ascent in 2025 on a grand scale. Since the Japanese consider Manaslu their symbolic mountain, a commemorative event is being planned in Samagaun, near the base of the mountain.
With Pokhara Metropolitan City, Gorkha Municipality, and Bandipur Municipality jointly observing 2025 as a Tourism Year, stakeholders hope this momentum will further support the growth of rural tourism in the region.
