KATHMANDU, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- Nepali mountaineer Nirmal Purja, who achieved the record-breaking success by reaching the world's 14 highest peaks in shortest period of time, has received heroic welcome and huge appreciation by the mountaineering industry.
Purja, 36, completed climbing all 14 peaks above 8,000 meters in six months and six days, exactly 190 days, after scaling the final mountain Shishapangma located in China's Tibet Autonomous Region on Oct. 29.
"Everything in life is possible armed only with determined approach and positive mindset," Purja shared on his social media account right after setting the new history in mountaineering.
Receiving a heroic welcome upon his arrival in Kathmandu on Wednesday evening, the legend climber said everything in life is possible, which also refers to the name of his ambitious campaign "Project Possible" that kicked off in April this year.
Mountaineering authorities claimed this feat as a moment of pride for both the country and mountaineering industry. Dandu Raj Ghimire, director general at the Nepali Department of Tourism, told Xinhua on Thursday, "We are proud of this rare and incredible achievement. We are hopeful that this will positively contribute to promoting our mountaineering industry."
In its congratulatory statement, the department said, "Nepal has made a glorious history in the field of mountaineering. Department of Tourism is very proud of such a courageous and honorable work. We are hopeful that the group will utilize the skills, competence and ability in Nepal's adventure tourism."
Born in 1983, Purja served in British special forces for 10 years before initiating the project, which was aimed at completing the 14-peaks expedition with a rotating support team in just seven months.
The previous world record for one individual reaching all 14 summits was seven years, 10 months and six days created by the late South Korean climber Kim Chang-ho in 2013.
Nepal Mountaineering Association believes that this record proves the courage and capability of Nepali climbers and strong Sherpas, who are often regarded as the backbone of mountaineering.
"Nepal has many highest mountains of the world, but most of the records are kept by foreign climbers. This latest achievement by an aspiring youth is the perfect example of our potential," Sudarshan Neupane, treasurer at Nepal Mountaineering Association, told Xinhua.
Purja started his mission by climbing Annapurna I, followed by Dhaulagiri, Kanchenjunga, Qomolangma, Lhotse and Makalu in May. Following this, he scaled Nanga Parbat, Gasherbrum I, Gasherbrum II, Broad Peak and K2 in Pakistan, Manaslu and Cho Oyu before hitting the final mountain in China.
Nirmal's team comprised five members, including Mingma David Sherpa, Gesman Tamang, Galjen Sherpa, Lakpa Dendi Sherpa and Halung Dorchi Sherpa.
"Together we have been through so much, we climbed not only as a team but as brothers with one sole goal to make the impossible possible pushing the human limitations to next level," the team leader Purja said about his team.
His bravery followed by international headlines comes at a time when the Himalayan country is marking 2020 as Visit Nepal Year with a target of attracting 2 million foreign tourists.
"The limits and courage of Nepal and Nepali people has spread all over the world today. It's very exciting news. It has given a positive message and has contributed for tourism promotion, " Deepak Raj Joshi, head of Nepal Tourism Board, told Xinhua.
Joshi added that the record is highly influential to make the Visit Nepal Year 2020 campaign a success.
Nirmal Purja, popular as Nims Dai in social media, has already made public that a book covering his all adventures and success would be released next year, in addition to a documentary film.
