February 19: The Department of Tourism has started issuing mountaineering permits for spring season expedition. The department has so far issued pre-mountaineering permits to five expedition teams from Nepal and India to climb four mountains, including Mount Everest. The spring expedition season of 2021 begins from March 20.
The spring season is the most preferable time for mountaineering in Nepal.
Any expedition team which is looking for permits the season starts is required to submit an application and fee to the department. According to an official of the department, 12 people from four expedition teams of India and three people from one team of Nepal (for climbing Mt. Everest) have received prior approval for climbing. According to him, two people from India have received permits to climb Mt Everest, four for Nuptse, two for Lhotse, and four for Pumori.
He said that the Indian mountaineers paid Rs 222,000 to the revenue department and the Nepali climbers paid Rs 12,250 for the permits.

The Indians who had climbed Nepal's mountains in the winter season have now formed a team and sought prior permission to climb these mountains.

Officials of the department informed that permits cannot be obtained without paying the fee in advance. Spring is the most favourable season for mountaineering.

The mountaineering sector of Nepal saw enthusiastic participation from climbers during the autumn and  winter season this year despite the risk of coronavirus pandemic.

The Department of Tourism expects the number of climbers to rise in the spring season.