April 15: The government has issued permits to 512 people from 40 countries to climb 19 mountains of Nepal for the current season. According to the Department of Tourism, the government has collected royalties of Rs 344.39 million by issuing climbing permits so far this season.

The spring season is considered ideal for climbing mountains in Nepal as the weather is more favourable than other seasons.

Meanwhile, the deprtment has issued permits to 40 individuals to climb Mt Dhaulagiri and Mt Annapurna in Myagdi district for the ongoing spring expedition season.

According to the Department of Tourism, 15 people have taken permission to climb Mt Dhaualagiri (8,167 m), the world's seventh highest peak located in Dhaulagiri Rural Municipality-4, while 25 people have taken permission to climb the tenth highest peak, Mt Annapurna I (8,091 m) located in Annapurna Rural Municipality-4.

According to Dilip Kumar Marhajan, a senior officer of the department, 10 men and five women from one group have taken permission to climb Mt Dhaulagiri and 14 men and 11 women from three groups have taken permission to climb Mt Annapurna.

According to the department, the government has collected Rs 35,70,800 as royalties by issuing climbing permits for Mt Dhaulagiri and Rs 59,61,780  from permits issued for Mt Annapurna.

Foreign and local climbers, Sherpas, guides, porters and helpers have started arriving at the base camp, Hari Prasad Tilija, a ward member of Dhaulagiri rural municipality-4, told RSS.

Bharat Kumar Pun, chairman of Annapurna Rural Municipality, said that the activity of climbers and tourists has increased at the base camp of Annapurna I.

Last fall, 12 male and 11 female mountaineers from four groups took permission to climb Mt Dhaulagiri. No one had taken permission to climb Mt Annapurna in autumn.

Meanwhile, 47-year-old mountaineer Ellie Pepper from Australia climbed Annapurna I without oxygen at 12:07 PM on Sunday afternoon.