KATHMANDU, SEPTEMBER 27

The government today honoured a record-holding woman mountaineer for her inspiring role in promoting Nepal's adventure tourism in the world.

On the occasion of the World Tourism Day, Acting Prime Minister Prakash Man Singh felicitated Phunjo Jhangmu Lama of Gorkha, who set the world record becoming the fastest female to scale the world's highest peak in less than 15 hours.

In the last spring season, Phunjo reached the summit of Mt Everest from the base camp in 14 hours and 31 minutes. Phunjo, the trailblazing mountaineer and Himali Outdoor Athlete, also set the fastest record of Base Camp – Everest Summit – Base Camp – climbing in just 24 hours and 26 minutes as she descended to base camp from Everest summit in 9 hours 18 minutes.

Acting PM Singh honoured Phunjo during an event organiseed to mark the World Tourism Day in Kathmandu where Minister for Culture Tourism and Civil Aviation, tourism secretary and high-level government as well as industry representatives were present.

In 2018, Phunjo also made headlines after reaching the Everest summit in 39 hours and 6 minutes. Later in 2021, Ada Tsang Yin-hung of Hong Kong broke Phunjo's record, scaling the world's highest peak in 25 hours 50 minutes. In the last spring season, being part of the TAG Nepal Everest expedition, Phunjo decided to reclaim her title.

Phunjo, who is the first Nepali female helicopter long-line rescuer, had already been awarded with the Tenzing-Hilary award by the government.

Born in Chhokangpaaro village of Tsum valley in Gorkha, Phunjo scaled Mt Everest, Mt Manaslu, Mt Cho Oyu and other peaks including Amdablam, Lobuche and Denali. She has also supported rural communities for their livelihood.