A domestic tourist who went missing during the Mardi Himal trek in Kaski district has been found dead, authorities confirmed on Saturday. The missing individual has been identified as Dhanisaro, a monk from Sangharam Buddhist Monastery in Kathmandu.
According to Raj Kumar Tamang, Chairperson of the Mardi Trek Management Committee, the search and rescue team discovered the body in a deep gorge beneath a large cliff near the upper Mardi Himal Viewpoint, where he had disappeared on Baisakh 30.
Tamang said the team reached the location after spotting marks in the snow and later found pieces of clothing far below the cliff area, which helped confirm the site of the fall. It took nearly three hours for rescuers to reach the spot due to the difficult terrain.
He added that retrieving the body has not been possible so far due to extremely challenging geography.
“Because of the steep and dangerous terrain, it is not possible to carry the body manually. We informed the administration, police, and rural municipality to arrange a helicopter rescue. However, after waiting for nearly four hours without any aerial support, our team returned to High Camp,” Tamang said.
Search Operation Launched After He Failed to Return from Viewpoint Visit
The monk had been staying at Low Camp before reaching the Mardi Himal Viewpoint, located at an altitude of around 4,200 meters. He had reportedly left his belongings at a teashop and told others he would briefly explore the surrounding area.
When he failed to return by evening, local tourism operators and guides launched a search operation the following day. Despite continuous efforts for two days, no trace was initially found.
Security personnel joined the operation on Saturday, after which a renewed search led to the discovery of the body.
Safety Concerns Raised Over Solo Trekking in High Altitudes
The incident has once again raised serious concerns about trekking safety in high-altitude regions such as Mardi Himal, which attracts thousands of domestic and international visitors each year.
Local tourism stakeholders have urged trekkers to avoid moving alone in steep and unfamiliar terrain, especially in rapidly changing weather conditions where visibility can drop suddenly.
Authorities are expected to coordinate further efforts for body recovery once weather and helicopter support become available.
