October 18: Tourists taking mountain climbing permits increased in autumn: Chinese climbers are the most

The number of tourists seeking permits to climb mountains has increased during this year’s autumn season.

By mid-October this season, 881 mountaineers have taken permission from the Department of Tourism to climb the mountain peaks of Nepal. The number of climbing permits issued till September 21 was 339. By mid-October, the number of climbing permits has more than doubled.

According to the data released by the department, the climbers have been granted permission to climb 42 mountains. The aspiring climbers include 702 males and 179 females from 114 teams.

The department has collected royalties worth Rs 57.7 million while issuing climbing permits to the tourists this season. Many tourists come for trekking and mountain climbing during this time of the year, which is considered an ideal tourist season.

According to the department, the highest number of mountaineers have taken permission to climb Mount Manaslu. So far, 301 people have taken permission from the department to climb the 8,163-meter Mt Manaslu for this season. The department has collected revenue of Rs 34 million by issuing permits for Mt Manaslu.

After Manaslu, the preferred choice of mountaineers is the 6,814-meter tall Mt Amadablam. So far 198 mountaineers have taken permission to climb this mountain. The department has collected royalties of Rs 10.5 million while issuing permits to climb this mountain.

The third choice among the climbers is the 7,126-meter high Mt Himlung. A total of 111 climbers have taken permission to climb this mountain. The department has collected royalties of Rs 3.38 million while issuing permits for climbing this mountain.

Climbers from 55 countries have taken permission to climb the mountains this season. Most of those who received permits are Chinese climbers. A total of 68 Chinese have taken permission from the department to climb various mountains.  Climbers from France are in second place with 58 of them acquiring climbing permits.

American climbers are in the third place. The department informed that 49 American mountaineers have obtained permission to climb the mountains this season.