Platinum Jubilees of Mt. Lhotse and Mt. Manaslu to Be Celebrated
29th April 2026, Kathmandu, Nepal
The platinum jubilees marking the 70th anniversary of the first successful ascents of Mt. Lhotse and Mt. Manaslu will be commemorated next month through a series of official programs, organizers announced at a press conference.
The celebrations are being jointly organized by the Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA), Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), Tsum Nubri Rural Municipality, and Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality.
Mt. Manaslu was first successfully summited on May 9, 1956, by Japanese climber Toshio Imanishi, while Mt. Lhotse was first summited on May 18, 1956, by Swiss climbers Ernst Reiss and Fritz Luchsinger.
To mark the historic milestone, the Platinum Jubilee of Mt. Manaslu will be celebrated on May 8–9, 2026, in Sama Gaun, Gorkha, and at the International Mountain Museum (IMM) in Pokhara. Similarly, the Platinum Jubilee of Mt. Lhotse is scheduled for May 21, 2026, in Khumjung, Solukhumbu.
Family members of the first ascenders of both mountains are also travelling to Nepal to participate in the commemorative events. The NMA has been coordinating closely with them to ensure their presence.
Speaking at the press conference, the President of NMA stated that preparations for the events are in their final stages. He also announced statues of the first ascenders of Mt. Manaslu and Mt. Lhotse will be installed in Sama Gaun and Khumjung, respectively.
“We have planned a series of programs to celebrate the 70th anniversary of these historic ascents,” he said. “As part of the celebrations, statues of the first ascenders will also be erected and inaugurated in their respective regions.”
The NMA President Sherpa further announced that a statue of Urkien Tshering Sherpa, the first Nepali climber to summit both Mt. Manaslu and Mt. Lhotse will also be erected and inaugurated. Sherpa summited Mt. Manaslu on April 22, 1973, and Mt. Lhotse on May 8, 1977.
Chairman of Tsum Nubri Rural Municipality, Neema Lama, expressed gratitude to all organizing and co-organizing bodies. “We sincerely thank the NMA, NTB, and all partners for joining us in celebrating this important occasion,” he said. “The first ascent of Mt. Manaslu marked the beginning of diplomatic relations between Nepal and Japan. We hope this celebration will further strengthen our ties.”
Gorkha Municipality, the Embassy of Japan in Nepal, and the National Trust for Nature Conservation will serve as co-organizers for the Manaslu Jubilee, while the Embassy of Switzerland will co-organize the Lhotse Jubilee celebrations.
NTB Senior Director Sunil Sharma highlighted the importance of collaboration, stating that the Board is working closely with NMA, local governments, and stakeholders to promote and strengthen Nepal’s tourism industry.
The program commenced with a welcome address by NMA Second Vice President Bodha Raj Bhandari, who greeted guests, journalists, and attendees.
Highlights of the Manaslu Platinum Jubilee
May 9, 2026 – Sama Gaun, Gorkha
● Unveiling of statues of Toshio Imanishi and Urkien Tshering Sherpa by chief guests
May 10, 2026 – International Mountain Museum, Pokhara
● Inauguration of a 3D model of Mt. Manaslu by the chief guest, Maeda Toru, Ambassador of Japan to Nepal
● Presentation on the 1956 Manaslu Expedition by the Japanese Alpine Club
● Screening of a documentary on the 1956 expedition
Highlights of the Lhotse Platinum Jubilee
● Official inauguration of a photo exhibition
● Unveiling of statues of the first ascenders of Mt. Lhotse
