The diamond jubilee celebrations of the first ascent of Mount Annapurna began on the evening of Saturday, May 31, with a ceremonial welcome for a team of trekkers at Narchyang Besi—the gateway to Annapurna Base Camp.
This year marks 75 years since the successful summit of Annapurna I, the 8,091-meter peak located in Annapurna Rural Municipality–4, Narchyang. As the first 8,000-meter mountain ever climbed, Annapurna I is often referred to as the "eldest peak" in the mountaineering world.
On June 3, 1950, French mountaineers Maurice Herzog and Louis Lachenal became the first humans to stand atop an 8,091-meter summit—three years before the historic ascent of Mount Everest.
The current trekking delegation includes international guests, tourism professionals, and journalists. Among them is Mathias Herzog, son of Maurice Herzog, honoring his father's legacy. The group was warmly received by local leaders, including officials from Ward 4 of Annapurna Rural Municipality, the Annapurna Janajagaran Youth Club, and the Creative Mothers Group.
According to Ward Chair Lok Bahadur Pun, the group includes six French nationals, three English, five Indians and one Italian—all invited by the Nepali government to participate in the jubilee events.
French artists accompanying Herzog performed a musical tribute at the welcome event, with a second performance scheduled for Monday, June 2, at the Annapurna Base Camp.
Around 200 participants are trekking from Narchyang Besi through Humkhola, Phutphute Waterfall, Sandhikharka, Bhuskhet, and Panchakunda Lake, before reaching the base camp, situated at 4,100 meters above sea level.
Annapurna Rural Municipality Chairperson Bharat Kumar Pun said the jubilee is being marked with a series of programs running through Thursday, June 5, in honor of a climb that not only introduced Nepal’s mountains to the world but also catalyzed the development of its mountaineering industry.
“Maurice Herzog’s ascent helped internationalize Nepal’s mountaineering potential,” said Pun. “This jubilee is a celebration of that legacy.”
Until now, Annapurna Ascent Day had only been commemorated through events held in Kathmandu and Pokhara. This is the first time the anniversary is being celebrated in the very region where the historic climb began.
Annapurna Base Camp and its main route fall within the territory of Narchyang in Myagdi district, on the borders of Myagdi, Kaski, Manang, and Mustang.
To mark the occasion, cultural performances and open dance competitions are being held on June 2 and 3 with participation from all eight wards of the rural municipality.
On June 3, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli is scheduled to unveil statues of the first climbers at the base camp, inaugurate a new museum, formally open the “Maurice Herzog Trail,” and attend a main celebration in Narchyang Besi, which will include award and recognition ceremonies, according to Vice Chair Diba Tilija Pun.
A high-altitude marathon from the base camp to Narchyang will also take place on June 3, with 42 athletes from Myagdi registered to compete. A group trek to the scenic Ghorepani–Poon Hill trail is scheduled for June 4.
On June 5 in Pokhara, Herzog’s family will formally hand over his original climbing gear to the International Mountain Museum, operated by the Nepal Mountaineering Association. The Nepali translation of Herzog’s seminal mountaineering memoir, “Annapurna”, translated by the French Embassy, will also be launched.
The diamond jubilee is being organized by Annapurna Rural Municipality, in collaboration with the Nepal Tourism Board, Nepal Mountaineering Association, and Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP). The municipality’s Tourism Development Committee is serving as co-organizer.
The trail to Annapurna Base Camp was officially identified as part of Myagdi district in 2011 under the leadership of local guide Tej Gurung. The route has since been named the “Maurice Herzog Trail.”
To boost tourism along the trail, Annapurna Rural Municipality organized a festival at Narchyang—the main entry point—in 2020. Local governments in both Kaski and Myagdi districts bear the name Annapurna in tribute to the peak. The Annapurna Circuit, which loops around the massif, remains one of the world’s most iconic trekking routes.
