Kathmandu, July 10

A team of climbers has been forced to abandon its attempt to climb Mt Arniko Chuli in the western Nepal after locals barred foreigners from passing through Upper Mustang for at least six months.

According to Lhakpa Sherpa, managing director, Miteri Nepal Treks, two climbers – Lahmann Wilfried from Germany and Rishi Shumshere Rana from Australia – returned from Lo-Manthang last week after locals barred them from taking the trekking route that passes through Upper Mustang.

Ang Dendi Lama Sherpa, who guided the foreign climbers along with two locally-hired porters to Lo-Manthang, said the team stayed at Lo-Manthang for five days to find a way to 6,039 m peak which was opened for climbing in March 2002.

“But we couldn’t go further despite having a valid permit issued by the Department of Tourism,” team leader Rana told THT, after returning to Kathmandu.

Jamyang Bist, Mukhiya of Lo-Manthang, who looks after six VDCs in the historical Trans Himalayan Valley, confirmed that he restricted foreign climbers from passing through the cultivated land to avoid bad omens.

He also claimed that residents had planted wheat and other seasonal crops on “the unique hidden land”.

“As per our tradition, residents of Upper Mustang jointly have decided to bar foreigners from passing through the cultivated land for at least six months to avoid any bad omen until the crops are harvested,” Bist, who also ran a trekking company, told this daily over phone.

Locals fear that Upper Mustang would face natural disaster -- anything from a hailstorm to cyclone -- if foreigners passed through the land during the cultivation period, he said. “The ban will be effective from Tiji festival in April till September,” the Mukhiya, who has the authority to impose rules, explained.

Mukhiya has a tenure of one year and his role and responsibility is defined in the set of rules laid down by the ancestors of the locals.

Mukhiya can levy taxes on grazing in pastures in Lo-Manthang, Chhoser, Ghemi, Chhuksang, Surkhang and Tsarang VDCs in the region dominated by the Tibetan culture. “If foreigners breach the rules, they will be fined as per Mukhiya’s decision,” Bist added.

The team that obtained a permit for 13 days to climb the peak had also paid $500 to DoT towards garbage-clearance deposit, according to Sherpa. “Upper Mustang locals must mend their ways, as the scenic valley is dependent on tourism and trade,” he added.

After receiving a complaint from the climbers, DoT’s director Laxman Sharma told them that the department would take up their case seriously.

@rajanpokhrel