Torches from Lumbini's peace lamp being taken to Everest

LUMBINI: Torches lit from the peace lamp from the birthplace of Lord Gautam Buddha, Lumbini, are being taken to the Mount Everest base camp.

Olympians Baikuntha Manandhar, Khadga Ranabhat and Krishna Basnet, and Everest Marathon winner Deepak Rai among other athletes have headed towards the base camp taking the torches from Lumbini today.

They are scheduled to reach Solukhumbu after visiting Tilaurakot as well as Swayambhu and Bouddhanath of Kathmandu.

Meanwhile, the athletes have headed towards Kathmandu on Sunday.

Nepal Tourism Foundation, buddhistcircuit.com and Tenzing Hillary Everest Marathon organised the programme to revive the tourism sector disrupted due to the earthquake and the border blockade last year.