KATHMANDU: One of mountaineering’s most iconic narratives, Annapurna Premier 8000 by Maurice Herzog, has now been made available to Nepali readers with the launch of its Nepali translation in Kathmandu on Thursday.

Organized by the French Embassy in Nepal and the Alliance française Katmandou, the event brought together leading figures from Nepal’s mountaineering, tourism and cultural communities, including Pokhara Mayor Dhan Raj Acharya, Nepal Mountaineering Association President Phur Gelje Sherpa, mountaineer Purnima Shrestha, and publisher Kunda Dixit.

Written by Herzog, the leader of the historic 1950 Franco-Nepali expedition, the book chronicles the first ascent of Annapurna—an achievement that marked the world’s first successful climb of an 8,000-metre peak and firmly placed Nepal at the centre of global mountaineering history.

The Nepali edition, translated by Ashok Shakya and Rijendra Shrestha and published by Fine Print, was financed by the French Embassy to broaden access to this landmark account among Nepali readers, trekkers and mountain enthusiasts.

French Ambassador Virginie Corteval said the story of Annapurna represents not only a milestone in alpinism but also the enduring friendship between Nepal and France forged through the mountains.

The programme featured readings from the translated text and a discussion on Annapurna’s legacy, while also paying tribute to the late Sonam Walung Sherpa, the first Nepali climber to summit Annapurna in 1977, who was honoured posthumously.