Dhaulagiri was first climbed on May 13, 1960 by Kurt Diemberger, Peter Diener, Ernst Forrer, Albin Schelbert, Nyima Dorji and Nawang Dorji, members of a Swiss/Austrian expedition. The expedition leader was Max Eiselin; they used the Northeast Ridge route which had been reconnoitered one year earlier by an Austrian expedition led by Fritz Moravec.
Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) is the implementing agency to celebrate the Golden Jubilee Celebration of the all the peaks located in Nepal above 8000 m height. NMA had successfully celebrated the Golden Jubilee Celebration of Mt. Everest, Mt. Cho-oyu, Mt. Makalu, Mt. Kanchanjunga, Mt. Lhotse and Mt. Manaslu. In this regard, NMA is set to celebrate the Golden Jubilee Celebration of Mt. Dhaulagiri on 13 May 2010. We have scheduled to gather and felicitate Dhaulagiri summiteers on this occasion; therefore, NMA requests summiteers from all around the world to participate in the celebration.
Tentative Program of Mt. Dhaulagiri Golden Jubilee - 6 May 2010
Registration form
Diemberger recalls first ascent of Dhaulagiri 50 years ago
( Courtesy: UIAA)
Interaction with Constituent members
An interaction program was held on 30 April with constituent members representing from Dhaulagiri zone regarding Mt. Dhaulagiri Golden Jubilee Celebration. In the interaction program, NMA President Mr. Ang Tshering Sherpa presented the tentative program proposed for the program and requested the members for suggestions to make the program more inclusive and jubilant. Hon'ble members appreciated the role of NMA in inviting them in the interaction program. Presenting their views, they stressed on the need of organizing such important program in Beni and Baglung in order to increase the awareness of local people on mountain tourism. NMA President asked constituent members to present program for 14 May 2010 and he committed for the presence of national and international Dhaulagiri summiteers in the program to be organized in their area. Finally, NMA President thanked all the constituent members for their presence and suggestions in the meeting and assured NMA's initiative to follow their suggestions.
Participants in Dhaulagiri celebration
Twenty-two national and international Dhaulagiri summiteers have registered in order to participate in Mt. Dhaulagiri Golden Jubilee Celebration. Some famous summiteers like the first Dhaulagiri summiteer Kurt Dimberger, Reinhold Messener and sixth times Dhaulagiri summiteer Mr. Ang Rita Sherpa have sent us their confirmation to participate in the program.
Mt. Dhaulagiri Golden Jubilee celebrated- 13 May 2010
In the history of golden jubilee of all the peaks above 8000m, Mt. Dhaulagiri Golden Jubilee is celebrated outside the capital in Pokhara. The morning procession participated by school students, Nepal Scouts, Nepal Army Band, Police Band, Pokhara Sub-Metropolitan City and various associations-Pokhara Tourism Council, TAAN, NATTA, NARA, HAN, NATO, HRA, REBAN, UNITRAV, NTB, Nepal Chamber of Commerce, FNCCI, Climbers Club, Rolwaling Club, NMIA, NNMGA, EOA, ESA, NWMA, Tamu Samaj, Langhali Samaj, Thakali Samaj etc. & Dhaulagiri Summiteers started from Hallanchowk, Lakeside to International Mountain Museum (IMM) amidst traditional music and cultural displays. In IMM premises, Pokhara Sub- Metropolitan City felicitated Dhaulagiri summiteers.
In the afternoon program, NMA President Mr. Ang Tshering Sherpa welcomed all the guests present in the program. In his welcome speech, Mr. Sherpa expressed his happiness for the presence of Kurt Diemberger, the only person alive to have made the first successful ascent of Mt. Dhaulagiri and Mt. Broad peak and seven Dhaulagiri summiteer Mr. Ang Rita Sherpa. He also thanked Government of Nepal for reducing 50% in the royalty fee of Mt. Dhaulagiri for two years. The chief guest for the program, Hon'ble Minister for Tourism & Civil Aviation Sharat Singh Bhandari put on cancellation mark on the commemorative cover released on the occasion of Mt. Dhaulagiri Golden Jubilee Celebration. The first Dhaulagiri climber, Kurt Diemberger recalled some of his memories from the first ever successful expedition. He mentioned about mountaineering equipments used in the expedition, how he collected fund for the expedition and challenges he faced during mountaineering.
Hon'ble Minister expressed his thankfulness for the presence of great Dhaulagiri summiteers- Mr. Kurt Diemberger and Mr. Ang Rita Sherpa in the program. He also expressed his happiness for the celebration program went well.
Finally, Officiating Secretary of Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation, Mr. Ranjan Krishna Aryal appreciated the initiative of Nepal Mountaineering Association in marking Mt. Dhulagiri Golden Jubilee Celebration. He also thanked all the associations for their direct or indirect involvement in the program.
