Kathmandu . A 15-member climbing team has departed on Friday to attempt the first-ever ascent of Api Himal, located in Darchula district of Sudurpaschim Province.
The farewell ceremony, organized by the Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA), was attended by Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Badri Pandey, who extended his best wishes to the climbers. Minister Pandey described the first ascent of Api Himal as a historic and proud moment for Sudurpaschim Province, adding that the expedition would mark a new milestone in regional tourism and mountaineering.
The expedition has been launched following the government’s recent decision, published in the gazette, to provide a two-year waiver on climbing permit fees for 97 peaks in Sudurpaschim and Karnali Provinces.
Speaking at the event, Minister Pandey emphasized that mountaineering is one of the most significant ways Nepal is recognized globally. He expressed confidence that the combined efforts of Sherpa and non-Sherpa climbers would usher in a new era for Nepal’s mountaineering sector.
The climbing team, which also includes participants from Api Rural Municipality, comprises 15 climbers. Despite the risks, the initiative has been launched with local involvement and is regarded as an important step toward promoting tourism and creating new opportunities for mountaineering in Sudurpaschim Province.
