Kathmandu: Kami Rita Sherpa has broken his own record for the most ascents of the world's highest peak, Sagarmatha (Mt Everest), reaching the summit for the 29th time on Sunday.

Sherpa surpassed his previous achievement during the spring expedition of the 8,848.86-meter-high mountain. Originally from Thame village in the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu rural municipality of Solukhumbu district, the 54-year-old record-holder has once again etched his name in history.

Rakesh Gurung, director of the Adventure Tourism and Mountaineering Section at the Department of Tourism, confirmed Kami Rita Sherpa's successful ascent early Sunday morning.

Having first conquered Everest on May 13, 1994, Kami Rita also holds the record for the most ascents of peaks above 8,000 meters.

He stands as the sole mountaineer to achieve the highest number of Everest ascents since Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary's historic climb on May 29, 1953.

Following closely in the record-setting spree is Dawa Sherpa of Solukhumbu district, who scaled Everest for the 27th time last spring.

A team of ten Sherpa members, responsible for fixing ropes, ascended Everest on Friday night, paving the way for a total of 414 adventurers who have secured permits to climb Everest this spring season. -- RSS