Three Mountaineers Honored on 76th Annapurna Ascent Day in Lamjung

Lamjung. Three mountaineers have been honored on the occasion of the 76th Annapurna Ascent Day in Lamjung. Mountaineer Purnima Shrestha from Gorkha, Narendra Shahi and Manraj Gurung from Lamjung's Ranas Municipality were honored at the tourism promotion program being held in Dordi Rural Municipality of Lamjung district on Jestha 20 and 21, informed Dordi Rural Municipality Chairman Yuvraj Adhikari.

The program was organized by the Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN) Gandaki in collaboration with the Ministry of Industry and Tourism, Gandaki Province Government, Nepal Tourism Board, Dordi Rural Municipality, and Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP), informed TAAN Gandaki Chairman Krishnaprasad Acharya.

Honored Mountaineers

Purnima Shrestha: From Photojournalism to World Record Mountaineer

Purnima Shrestha is one of the women climbers who has achieved extraordinary success in Nepal's mountaineering sector in a short period. Born in Arughat, Gorkha, Purnima is a photojournalist by profession. After getting an opportunity to get close to the Himalayas while collecting news for the Everest Marathon in 2017, she made mountaineering her life's goal.

After climbing Sagarmatha for the first time in 2018, she has been achieving success in the world's highest mountains continuously. She has successfully climbed eight mountains above eight thousand meters, including Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, Manaslu, Kanchenjunga, Makalu, Lhotse, and K2.

In 2021, she became a member of the first Nepali women's team to climb Annapurna, and in the same year, she set a new history by becoming the first Nepali woman to successfully climb Dhaulagiri along with Pasang Lhamu Sherpa Akita.

In 2024, she set a new world record by climbing Sagarmatha, the world's highest peak, three times within 13 days. She is the first woman in the world to climb Sagarmatha three times in a single climbing season. For this achievement, her name has been registered in the Guinness World Records.

By successfully climbing Sagarmatha for the fifth time in 2025 and the sixth time in 2026, she has established herself as a leading female mountaineer of Nepal.

Her adventurous achievements have also been highly valued by international media. After achieving the feat of climbing Sagarmatha three times in 2024, CNN included her in its list of outstanding 'extreme athletes' breaking boundaries.

Today, Purnima Shrestha is not only a successful mountaineer but also known as a symbol of the courage, determination, and confidence of Nepali women.

Narendra Shahi: An Inspiring Journey from Five Sagarmatha Ascents to Rescue

Narendra Shahi is a name that has dominated the Nepali mountaineering sector for the last two decades. He is also known by the name Naren Shahi Thakuri. Born in Ranas Municipality, Lamjung, and seeking his future in the lap of the Himalayas, Shahi is not just a climber but also an internationally renowned mountain guide, instructor, and skilled rescuer.

After starting his adventurous journey with the ascent of Mera Peak in 2005, Shahi has successfully climbed Sagarmatha, the world's highest peak, five times in a short period from 2017 to 2024. He also holds the record for the first ascent of Tobar Peak (6,100 m) in 2017.

Narendra Shahi's experience is not limited to the Himalayas of Nepal. He has also successfully climbed challenging peaks in Europe, including Iceland, France, Switzerland, Italy, and Russia.

In 2024 alone, he successfully climbed peaks such as Sagarmatha, Iceland's Hvannadalshnúkur, and Labuche Peak. His continuous activity has further elevated the professionalism of Nepali mountaineers in the global market.

Along with climbing, he has also been training new mountaineers as 'Education Chief' and 'Observer' in various mountain guide courses in China and Nepal.

He has also worked in the rescue committee of the Himalayan Rescue Association, having previously served as the technical director of the Nepal National Mountain Guide Association and the founding chairman of the Gandaki Alpine Club.

He holds a bachelor's degree from Tribhuvan University and a diploma in mountaineering, and has also completed high-level training such as 'NOLS Course' and 'Helicopter Long Line Rescue'.

Manraj Gurung: A Confluence of Mountains, Intellect, and Philanthropy

Man Raj Gurung, who has earned the identity of an 'Intellectual Climber' in the field of Nepali mountaineering and adventure tourism, has recently become an inspiring name. Born in Pyarjung, Ranas Municipality, Lamjung, Gurung reached a new height in his 15-year-long adventurous journey by successfully climbing Sagarmatha, the world's highest peak, on May 15, 2025.

Not only a mountaineer but also an international mountain guide, he has successfully climbed dozens of domestic and foreign mountains such as Himlung Himal, Ama Dablam, Mera Peak, and Africa's highest peak Mount Kilimanjaro. By connecting adventure tourism with business and spirituality, he has been making a significant contribution to Nepal's tourism sector through 'Bodhi Adventures'.

Despite being in a physically challenging field like mountaineering, he has proven himself to be excellent in the academic field as well. He holds a Master's degree in Business Studies from Shankar Dev Campus and a Master's degree in Buddhist Studies and Himalayan Studies from Lumbini Buddhist University.

Besides climbing and business, Gurung's identity as a skilled instructor and philanthropist is equally strong. He has also worked as a trainer for mountain cleaning campaigns at the Kaishang Glacier Training School of the Nepali Army, rope rescue training in disaster management training for the Nepal Police, and as a trainer for mountain rescue and navigation in various national organizations. He has traveled internationally to countries including Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda, Japan, and China.