Had climbed Mount Everest five times and eight peaks above 8,000 metres
Purnima Shrestha
पूर्णिमा श्रेष्ठ
First woman to summit Mount Everest three times in a single climbing season
About
Purnima Shrestha was born in Gorkha’s Arughat area. She has combined mountaineering with photojournalism to become one of Nepal’s leading female high-altitude climbers.
She made history as the first woman to reach the top of Mount Everest three times within a single climbing season. She is also among the first Nepali women to reach the top of both Annapurna I and Dhaulagiri, two of the Himalayas’ most demanding peaks. As of 2025, she has reached the top of eight mountains over eight thousand metres in total.
Quick facts
- Birthplace
- Arughat, Gorkha District, Nepal
- Profession
- Mountaineer, Photojournalist
- Nationality
- Nepal
- Status
- Alive
Career & life timeline
- 2025
Achievements
First woman to summit Mount Everest three times in a single season
Among the first Nepali women to summit both Annapurna I and Dhaulagiri
Climbed eight peaks above 8,000 metres, including Everest five times, as of 2025
Last updated: 2026-09-06