Mount Machhapuchhare: Untouched Holy Mountain of Nepal

Sacred Mountain of Nepal, Mt Machhapuchhare

Mt Machhapuchhare is a holy mountain and has never been climbed officially. The Gurung communities regard Mt Machhapuchhare as the home of Lord Shiva, guardian of the periphery. Many religious legends state that Lord Shiva dwells at the summit of the mountains. 

Similarly, natives of the Parbat and Kaski districts believe that the two peaks of Mount Machhapuchhare are represented by two divine brothers, Nara and Narayan (Lord Vishnu). Hindu people believe that the lake below this mountain makes its view spectacular and they even offer animals and pray to the mountain for their protection and safety. 

Significance of Machhapuchhare

Machhapuchhare holds religious significance among the locals of the Annapurna region. The castes like Gurung and Magar reside in the periphery of this mountain. The locals believe that Mount Machhapuchhare is the house of the Hindu god, Shiva. 

The strong belief in Lord Shiva makes this mountain sacred and it is a sin to climb this mountain. So, officially there have been no attempts of summit climbing as it would disturb the residence of god living within. There is another saying that the shape of a fishtail mountain was formed when Lord Shiva detached a powerful demon into three pieces, head, body, and tail. This tail of the demon has formed the shape of Mount Machhapuchhare. 

Climbing History

In 1950, a British expedition led by Lieutenant Colonel Jimmy Roberts attempted to climb the summit. When  Wilfrid Noyce and A. D. M. Cox were closer than 150m to reach the summit they turned back as a sign of respect to the locals and then King Mahendra. They climbed via North Ridge but others believed that heavy snowfall was the reason behind their return. 

Illegal Climber of Mt. Machhapuchhare

Bell Denz, from New Zealand, attempted to climb the peak of Machhapuchhare illegally in the 1980s. He couldn't gain the victory but lost his life due to an avalanche. Since, the 1950s, there haven’t been issued any climbing permits to Mount Machhapuchhare.

Why is climbing on Mt. Machhapuchhare banned? Will the ban ever get lifted?

Mount Machhapuchhare is banned from climbing because of its religious importance. Locals believe and worship this mountain as the home of Lord Shiva and consider him as the guardian of the landmark. So, the Nepal Government stopped providing permits for mountaineers. 

Likewise, mt. everest ( 8848.86 m), Mt. Annapurna(8091 m), Mt Ganesh (7422 m), and so on also have religious, cultural, and spiritual significance but climbing on these peaks is allowed. Tourism municipalities raised a concern regarding the ban uplift of the Mt Machhapuchhare in 2017. As of 2024, the ban is still firm, and seems like they won't lift the ban anytime soon. 

You can enjoy the mesmerizing view of Machhapuchhare by trekking to the Machhapuchhare Base Camp. When you are trekking to the Annapurna Base Camp, you get a chance to stay at Machhapuchhare Base Camp as well. 

Conclusion

With its mystical aura and breathtaking beauty, Mount Machhapuchhare is in the heart of adventure lovers and mountain expeditors. The remarkable blend of natural wonders and cultural richness, Mount Machhapuchhare, aka Fishtail is one of the most popular mountains in the Himalayas of Nepal. It is also considered as the backbone of Annapurna Himal due to its long spur ridge.