Manaslu climbers generate Rs 150 million in revenue

GORKHA: Mountaineers climbing Mt. Manaslu have generated over Rs 150 million in revenue this year, according to the Department of Tourism.

A total of 374 climbers from 31 expedition groups obtained permits to scale the 8,163-meter-high Manaslu, the world’s eighth highest peak, located in Chumanubri Rural Municipality-1, Samagaun. Among the climbers, 95 are women and 279 are men.

Himal Gautam, Director at the Department of Tourism, said that a total of Rs 157,640,195 (approximately Rs 150 million) was collected in fees from climbers of Manaslu alone.

In total, the Department collected around Rs 190 million in revenue from climbers who secured permits for 42 different peaks this season — with Manaslu contributing the largest share.

By comparison, only four climbers have taken permits to scale Mount Everest, generating Rs 4,212,375 in revenue. Meanwhile, 10 climbers received permits for Dhaulagiri, and just two climbers each applied to summit Lhotse, Makalu, and Cho Oyu.

As Nepal’s seventh highest peak, Manaslu continues to attract a significant number of climbers during the autumn climbing season, outpacing many of the country’s other major mountains.