Nepalese mountaineer Nirmal “Nims” Purja MBE, popularly known as Nimsdai, made history by completing 50 ascents of peaks over 8,000 meters, the most by any climber.

 

Purja achieved this milestone on Pakistan’s Nanga Parbat (8,126 meters), one of the world’s most dangerous mountains.

 

“This was the most dangerous climb of my life, battling fierce winds, blue ice, and rockfall,” Purja said after completing the summit.

 

Out of the 50 ascents, he scaled 22 without supplemental oxygen, setting a new world record.

 

Purja dedicated the achievement to 200 years of Nepal-UK friendship, carrying a flag to honour his service in the Gurkhas and UK Special Forces.

 

The climber first gained global recognition in 2019 with Project Possible, where he climbed all 14 of the world’s 8,000-meter peaks in six months and six days. His record-breaking feat was later featured in the Netflix documentary 14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible.

 

In 2021, he joined the historic team that completed the first winter ascent of K2, summiting without oxygen.

 

Beyond mountaineering, Purja runs the Nimsdai Foundation, which supports education, environmental initiatives, and mountain communities.

 

He is now pursuing his ambitious Hat-Trick Challenge, which involves climbing all 14 8,000-meter peaks and the Seven Summits for a third time, with proceeds funding his foundation’s projects.