On this day in the year 1953, Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay reached the summit of Mount Everest, becoming the first climbers to scale the highest peak in the world. Both heroes paved the way for a new era in mountaineering.

A beekeeper from New Zealand, Edmund Hillary, and the Nepalese Sherpa Tenzing Norgay achieved the feat after spending a restless night at 27,900 feet. The expedition was organized by Britain’s joint Himalaya Committee and led by Colonel John Hunt.

For this expedition, Hunt selected a group of people who were good and experienced in climbing mountains. There was also a filmmaker, a physiologist along the climbing team. They had made 9 camps on their way up, some of which are being still used by climbers now.

After years of dreaming and seven weeks of climbing, both the climbers reached the top of Mount Everest at 11:30 a.m. on 29th May 1953. The news of their achievement broke around the world on June 2, the day of Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation.

The conquest was a tremendous achievement. To honor the courage and determination of these two extraordinary men New Zeland Postal Department has issued a commemorative stamp. The 40 cent stamp picturing Tenzing Norgay alongside an image of the two victorious climbers reaching the summit. Besides this, Hillary featured on the five-dollar banknote issued by New Zealand.

Image Source: Wikipedia.org & scoop.co.nz