Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, May 10:

This year’s Tenzing Hillary Everest Marathon is going to be held on May 29 starting from Everest base camp to Namche, informed the organisers at a press meet here today in Nepal Tourism Board (NTB). This marathon passes through the traditional route to Everest pioneered by late Tenzing Norgay Sherpa and Sir Edmund Hillary while scaling Everest back in 1953, first time in human history, as stated in the press meet. This marathon meets the interantional standard and is the only one recognised by Interanational Olympic Committee, according to the information provided.

“This event is conducted entirely on the expenses of private sector,” said Bikrum Pandey, president, Himalaya Expeditions Company. Such steps will certainly boost to raise the morale of the declining tourism in Nepal, he added. Bimala Rana Magar, a popular name in women marathon of Nepal, is going to participate in the race for the first time. “There is no basic difference between marathon conducted in plain areas and highlands except the altitude problem,” said Bimala talking to The Himalayan Times.

The marathon passes through the highest elevation in the world recorded in the Guinness Book of World Record. It passes through monasteries, monuments, chorten, suspension bridges and all sorts of beautiful landscapes which are nowhere found in the world, stated the press release.