Seventy years have elapsed since the groundbreaking human achievement of reaching the summit of the world’s highest peak, Mount Everest. On May 29, 1953, Edmund Hillary of New Zealand and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa of Nepal etched their names in history as the first triumphant conquerors of the mountain.
The historic British expedition in 1953 culminated in Hillary and Tenzing’s ascent at 11:30 AM, following an arduous and ambitious journey to the pinnacle of the world. They spent approximately 15 minutes at the peak, relishing their unprecedented accomplishment.
Interestingly, news of their remarkable feat wasn’t widely disseminated until June 2 when a telegraph station in Namche Bazaar, Nepal, relayed the information to the British Embassy in Kathmandu. Today, thanks to the advent of social media, climbers can instantaneously share their stories, a far cry from the delayed communication of the past. Moreover, China announced the establishment of 5G connectivity at the Everest summit in 2020.
On May 29, 1953, Edmund Hillary of New Zealand and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa of Nepal etched their names in history as the first triumphant conquerors of the mountain.
The mountain itself is named after Sir George Everest, a former Surveyor General of India. Situated on the border of Nepal and Tibet, it is referred to as Chomolungma or Qomolangma in Sherpa and Tibetan languages, signifying “goddess mother of the world.” In the Nepali language, it is known as Sagarmatha, meaning “peak of the sky.”
Presently, during the spring season, considered the most favorable time, hundreds of ambitious climbers embark on the formidable challenge of scaling Everest, hoping to join the ranks of those who have successfully reached its summit.