Prime Minister Oli arrives in Narchyang

Myagdi, June 3: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has arrived in Narchyang, Annapurna Rural Municipality-4 on Tuesday in connection with attending a programme marking the 75th anniversary of the ascent of Mount Annapurna. The Rural Municipality is organising the event on the occasion.

The rural municipality is organising the Diamond Jubilee celebration marking the 75th anniversary of French mountaineer Maurice Herzog's first ascent of the 8,091-metre high Annapurna on June 3, 1950,  said Bharat Kumar Pun, the Rural Municipality chairperson.

On the occasion, Prime Minister Oli is scheduled to inaugurate the trail in the Annapurna Base Camp and an open museum, and unveil the statue of climbers who climbed the Annapurna.

Prime Minister Oli is accompanied by Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Badri Prasad Pandey, and State Minister for Energy, Irrigation and Water Resources Khama Bahadur Garbuja.

The climbing route and the base camp of Annapurna lie in the Narchyang area of the Myagdi district. The peak borders the Myagdi, Kaski, Manang and Mustang districts.

Annapurna is called the 'elder mountain' because it was the first ever peak above 8,000 metres tall on which humans set their foot.

The successful ascent of the world's highest peak, Sagarmatha (Mt Everest), took place only three years after Maurice Herzog and Louis Lachenal's team from France reached the summit of Annapurna on June 3, 1950.

Lok Bahadur Pun, the Chairperson of Annapurna Rural Municipality, Ward No 4, stated that various programmes are being organised today to celebrate the First Ascent on Annapurna and hence the development of Nepal's mountaineering tourism, which introduced the Himalayas to the world.

The Annapurna Climbing Festival, which commenced on May 31, will wrap up in Pokhara on June 5. (RSS)