Mountaineer Tejan Gurung, who successfully scaled all 14 peaks above 8,000 meters, was honored today in Pokhara by the Gurung Tourism Entrepreneurs Association (GTEAN) Gandaki Province. The event was held in coordination with the Ministry of Industry and Tourism of Gandaki Province and supported by the Nepal Tourism Board.
The ceremony saw Gurung being honored by Gandaki Province Minister for Industry and Tourism, Mitralal Basyal; GTEAN Gandaki President Kisamkumari Gurung; and event coordinator and founding president of GTEAN Gandaki, Boberjung Gurung. The recognition was a tribute to Gurung’s extraordinary achievement, which has brought pride not only to Gandaki Province but to the entire nation.
In his remarks, Minister Basyal highlighted Gandaki Province’s immense potential for mountain tourism and stressed the need for collective efforts to promote and develop the sector. Event coordinator Boberjung Gurung echoed this sentiment, noting that Tejan Gurung’s ascent of the 14 peaks stands as a symbol of pride for the entire nation.
The event also spotlighted the promotion of the newly developed Gurung Heritage Trail, which connects Tangting in Kaski to Timang in Manang. Boberjung Gurung shared that this route, which takes between four to fourteen days to complete, could be integrated with the Annapurna Circuit, offering a fresh perspective for trekkers. The once 21-day Annapurna Circuit has now been reduced to a five-to-six-day trek due to new developments.
During the event, several speakers emphasized the importance of exploring Nepal’s mountain tourism potential. Among them were GTEAN Gandaki General Secretary Tul Gurung, former Nepal Tourism Board Executive Member Ganesh Bahadur Bhattarai, Vice President of Pokhara Tourism Council Chau Bahadur Gurung, Senior Officer of Nepal Tourism Board Kundan Mishra, and Vice President of Pokhara Chamber of Commerce and Industry Balram Acharya.
Prior to the event, Tejan Gurung was paraded through Pokhara from the international airport to the venue, passing through Prithvi Chowk and Hallan Chowk, accompanied by traditional music and celebrations. Over his illustrious career, Gurung has conquered 8,000-meter peaks including Everest, Lhotse, Annapurna, Makalu, Kanchenjunga, Nanga Parbat, G2, G1, Broad Peak, K2, Manaslu, Dhaulagiri, Cho Oyu, and Shishapangma.
The event also honored another distinguished mountaineer, Mingma Sherpa, for his contributions to mountain climbing.
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