In 65 years, 680 climbers reach the peak of Dhaulagiri
Dhaulagiri, the world’s seventh-highest peak, has seen 680 climbers since its first successful ascent in 65 years, posing significant challenges due to rapidly changing weather conditions. Dhaulagiri summited 638 people in 2023, with 42 more in 2024 and 13 in 2025, due to its challenging nature and fewer climbers each year. On May 13, 1960, Swiss-Austrian climbers led the first successful ascent of Dhaulagiri, a joint effort led by Max Eiselin. A commemorative event was held on May 13 in Pokhara for the 65th anniversary, but local representatives were not informed.
Hariprasad Tilija, a local tourism entrepreneur from Mudi Bagar, emphasized the importance of improving the Round Dhaulagiri Trek’s infrastructure and advertising. He voiced his worries that the local authority has not made the development of the trekking path a top priority. The Round Dhaulagiri Trek, a nine-day journey from Mudi to Marpha, has experienced a decline in visitors due to the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Tilija highlights the lack of basic infrastructure in Dhaulagiri route sections, including bridges, railings, and avalanche hazard signs, and hopes government investment could boost trekker numbers.
