42 climbers obtain permits to climb Annapurna I

By Thakur Prasad Acharya,Myagdi, Mar. 31: At least 42 climbers have obtained permits to climb Annapurna I this spring, a towering 8,091-metre peak nestled in Narchyang, Annapurna Rural Municipality-4 of Myagdi district. With preparations underway, the climbers have already begun their journey to the base camp.

According to the Department of Tourism, four groups comprising 30 men and 12 women have received permission for the expedition this spring season, informed Arati Neupane, Director of the Adventure and Mountaineering Section of the Department. She said, “Issuing permits for climbing Annapurna I in the spring season have started. So far, 42 climbers have obtained permits, marking an increase compared to last year.”

Neupane said that the government has collected Rs. 14.7 million in royalties from these climbers. In the previous spring season, only 25 climbers had obtained permits, contributing Rs. 5.96 million in royalties. As the spring season begins, the Annapurna Base Camp and the Maurice Herzog Trail are bustling with climbers and tourists, said Tej Gurung, an activist associated with the trail.

“Climbers from both Nepal and abroad, along with guides, Sherpas, porters and support staff, have started reaching the base camp. With the increase in climbers this year, the region is expected to be more active,” Gurung added. He also said that spring is considered the most suitable season for climbing Annapurna.

Gurung said that temporary shelters, tea stalls and restaurants have been set up along the Maurice Herzog Trail and the base camp to provide food and accommodation to the visitors. Previously, tourists had to carry their supplies themselves.

Local youths from Narchyang, with permission from the rural municipality, have started operating tea shops, restaurants and campsites in locations such as Phutphute Waterfall, Sadhikharka, Gufafant, Bhusket and the Panchakunda Lake area near the base camp, said Diwa Kumari Tilija, Vice Chairperson of Annapurna Rural Municipality.

The trail follows the Mistri Khola riverbank, passing through tall waterfalls, captivating mountain views, lush landscapes, and rare plants and wildlife, ultimately reaching the 4,100-metre-high Annapurna Base Camp. The scenic Panchakunda Lake at the base camp further adds to the area’s appeal.

The Maurice Herzog Trail was established in 2010 under the leadership of Tej Gurung, following the path used by French climber Maurice Herzog during his successful ascent of Annapurna 75 years ago. In 2020, the Annapurna Rural Municipality officially named the route after Herzog and developed it as a trekking trail.

To date, 488 climbers have successfully summited Annapurna. To mark the 75th anniversary of the first ascent, a special programme is scheduled for June 3, 2025, at the Annapurna Base Camp. Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli is expected to attend the event.

The event will also include the participation of Maurice Herzog’s wife, his son Mathieu Herzog, 10 foreign climbers and international journalists, according to Gurung, who is also a member of the Annapurna Day Celebration Committee.

Bharat Pun, Chairperson of Annapurna Rural Municipality, said that infrastructure development, including an open museum, is under way to establish the Maurice Herzog Trail and the base camp as prominent tourist destinations.

Pun added that Rs. 12.5 million has been allocated for infrastructure development in the area, with Rs. 10 million contributions from Annapurna Rural Municipality, Rs. 2 million from Nepal Tourism Board and Rs. 500,000 from the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP). These funds are being used to build shelters, restrooms, drinking water facilities and tea shops along the trail.