Mountaineers Honored in Lamjung’s Dordi on Annapurna Ascent Day

Lamjung-Three distinguished Nepali mountaineers were honored in Lamjung district on the occasion of the 76th Annapurna Ascent Day during a tourism promotion program organized in Dordi Rural Municipality.

The two-day event, held on June 3 and 4, recognized the contributions of renowned mountaineers Purnima Shrestha from Gorkha and Narendra Shahi and Man Raj Gurung from Rainas Municipality, Lamjung. The awards were presented by Gandaki Province Minister for Industry and Tourism Yashoda Rimal.

According to Dordi Rural Municipality Chairperson Yubaraj Adhikari, the honored climbers have made significant contributions to Nepal’s mountaineering and tourism sectors through their remarkable achievements and dedication.

The program was organized by the Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal (TAAN) Gandaki in collaboration with the Ministry of Industry and Tourism of Gandaki Province, the Nepal Tourism Board, Dordi Rural Municipality, and the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP), said TAAN Gandaki Chairperson Krishna Prasad Acharya.

Purnima Shrestha is among Nepal’s most successful female climbers, having achieved extraordinary success within a short period. Born in Arughat, Gorkha, she is professionally a photojournalist. Her interest in mountaineering began in 2017 while covering the Everest Marathon as a journalist.

Since then, she has made mountaineering her life’s mission. In 2025, she successfully summited Mount Everest for the fifth time, followed by her sixth successful ascent in 2026, establishing herself as one of Nepal’s leading female mountaineers.

Narendra Shahi, also known as Naren Shahi Thakuri, has been a prominent figure in Nepal’s mountaineering sector for more than two decades. Born in Rainas Municipality of Lamjung, he has built an international reputation as a mountain guide, trainer, and skilled rescue expert.

He began his climbing journey with the successful ascent of Mera Peak in 2005. Between 2017 and 2024, he successfully summited Mount Everest five times, further cementing his status as one of Nepal’s accomplished climbers.

Widely known as an “intellectual mountaineer,” Man Raj Gurung has become an inspiring figure in Nepal’s adventure tourism and mountaineering community. Born in Pyarjung of Rainas Municipality, Lamjung, Gurung reached the summit of Mount Everest on May 15, 2025, marking a major milestone in his 15-year-long adventure career.

In recent years, he has actively advocated for the inclusion of tourism, adventure sports, and mountaineering education as optional subjects in secondary-level school curricula, emphasizing the importance of nurturing future generations of mountain professionals.

The event celebrated not only the achievements of individual climbers but also the broader contribution of mountaineering to Nepal’s tourism industry and national identity.