September 7: Mountaineers are growingly attracted towards climbing Mt Manaslu (8,163m), the eighth highest peak in the world. The number of climbers seeking permission to climb Mt Manaslu during this autumn season is highest among all other mountain peaks, reports the state-owned national news agency RSS.

According to the Department of Tourism, a total of 237 climbers of 25 expedition teams have been granted permission to scale different peaks in Nepal including Mt Everest. Most of them will be climbing Mt Manaslu. The department informed RSS that altogether 214 climbers of 19 expedition teams will be climbing Mt Manaslu this season. Among them, 160 are female and 50 are male climbers.

Manaslu has become the preferred choice among the climbers as the autumn season is considered ideal for climbing the mountain peak.

Former General Secretary of Nepal Mountaineering Association Kul Bahadur Gurung says that the number of climbers aspiring to scale Mt Manaslu is encouraging this year just like in the past years.

Managing Director of Seven Summit Treks Pvt Ltd Mingma Sherpa confirmed that lots of tourists are acquiring permits to climb Mt Manaslu this year. According to Sherpa, his company will be assisting 60 climbers to scale Manaslu. He says that the number of climbers is expected to increase as the climbing window will be open for about a month.

The government had marked the diamond jubilee (60 years) of the first ascent of Mt Manaslu six years ago. The mountain received good publicity across the world after a 21-member expedition team of Bahrain’s Prince Sheikh Mohammad Hamam Al Khalifa scaled the peak two years ago.