KATHMANDU: Tsum Nubri Rural Municipality of Gorkha district has nominated record-holding woman climber Phunjo Jangmu Lama as tourism goodwill ambassador.

A general assembly of the rural municipality unanimously endorsed the name of Phunjo as the tourism goodwill ambassador as the country marks the 70th anniversary of the successful ascent of Mt Manaslu which is situated in the Tsum valley, said rural municipality chairman Nima Lama.

“We are very glad to name Phunjo as the tourism goodwill ambassador as she is the jewel of our nation,” Chairman Lama said, adding that her name was endorsed by the general assembly attended by rural municipality representatives and locals.

According to Lama, being the goodwill ambassador, Phunjo will help promote tourism in the Manaslu region. “It’s a great honour and I will leave no stones unturned to promote the area in the world,” Phunjo reacted. Besides mountains, the valley has a unique tradition. Tsum Nubri, which completed 105 years of the declaration of a non-violence zone, had also promulgated the Shyagya Tradition Preservation Act -2023 with a view to contributing to the recognition, continuity, dissemination and protection of biological diversity in the area of non-violence. “Phunjo’s nomination will add another milestone to our efforts,” Chairman Lama added.

Trained in the Swiss Alps and Nepal's Himalayas, Phunjo set the world record becoming the fastest female to scale the world's highest peak in less than 15 hours. In 2024, Phunjo reached the summit of Mt Everest from the base camp in 14 hours and 31 minutes. Phunjo, the trailblazing mountaineer and Himali Outdoor Athlete, also set the fastest record of Base Camp – Everest Summit – Base Camp – climbing in just 24 hours and 26 minutes as she descended to base camp from Everest summit in 9 hours 18 minutes.

Professional mountaineer Phunjo, who is the first Nepali female helicopter long-line rescuer, had already been awarded with the Tenzing-Hilary award by the government.

Born in Chhokangpaaro village of Tsum valley, Phunjo scaled Mt Everest, Mt Manaslu, Mt Cho Oyu and other peaks including Amdablam, Lobuche and Denali. She has also supported rural and marginalised communities in areas of livelihood, education, and sustainable development.