DARCHULA: A 15-member team set out on Friday to make the first recorded ascent of Api Himal, located in Dthe archula district of Sudurpaschim Province.
The farewell ceremony was organized by the Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA), where Minister for Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation Badri Pandey bid farewell to the climbers. He described the expedition as a historic and joyous moment for Sudurpaschim Province.
The climb follows a recent government decision to waive climbing fees for 97 peaks in Sudurpaschim and Karnali provinces for two years, as announced through the official gazette.
Minister Pandey highlighted mountaineering as a vital activity for promoting Nepal internationally and expressed confidence that the joint efforts of Sherpa and non-Sherpa climbers would usher in a new era in Himalayan expeditions.
“This expedition will enhance coordination and cooperation at the local level while significantly contributing to tourism development in Sudurpaschim and Karnali provinces,” Pandey said.
The team also includes 15 climbers from Api Rural Municipality. Despite the inherent risks, the initiative has involved local participants and is seen as opening new opportunities for tourism and mountaineering in the region.
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