Phungling (Taplejung): The Himalayan region of Taplejung has recently seen a growing number of climbers and tourists, showing renewed enthusiasm for mountain expeditions in the area.
In mid-October, two French climbers successfully made the first-ever ascent of White Wave Peak (6,808 meters). According to Tenji Sherpa from Annapurna Foothills Treks and Expedition, the climbers were Benjamin Charles Eli Vedrines and Nicolas Paul Aristide from France.
Just last week, a Chilean climber successfully reached the summit of Pathibhara Himal, located near the famous Kanchenjunga Himal. Meanwhile, three French mountaineers have reached the base camp of Kumbhakarna (Phaktanglung) Himal, which stands at 7,710 meters, and ranks as the 32nd highest mountain in the world and 15th highest in Nepal, according to tourism assistant Sherpa.
Mountaineering activity in Taplejung has been gaining momentum in recent years. In November last year, four South Korean climbers made the first ascent of Sharfu-5 Himal (6,328 meters). Later, in March, Chilean climber Hernan Leal, along with Nepali climbers Lakpa Chhiring Sherpa, Nada Sherpa, and photographer Purnima Shrestha, successfully made the first ascent of Sharfu-4 Himal (6,433 meters).
According to Tashi Tenzing, a tourism assistant at the Ghunsa Tourism Check Post Office under the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area Management Council, around 300 foreign tourists have visited the Kanchenjunga region, home to the world’s third-highest peak. The main trekking season in this region runs from late August to early December (Bhadra to Mangsir 15).
As per the Department of Tourism, during last year’s spring climbing season (from March 1 to April 21), a total of 41 climbers, 26 men and 15 women, successfully reached the 8,586-meter summit of Mount Kanchenjunga. The expedition generated around Rs. 1.97 million in royalty revenue for the government.
