Mount Everest deserves a rest for a few years and should be developed to benefit the poor people of the mountain region, Sir Edmund Hillary said on Thursday.
Sir Edmund advised the Nepal government to allow only a limited number of expeditions to the highest peak in the world to save it from environmental damage.
The 84-year-old mountaineer also said the ecological balance of the mountain should not be tampered with.
He said the Himalayan range and its cultural diversity could be the main source for the development of tourism
Meanwhile, King Gyanendra has extended greetings to Queen Elizabeth of the United Kingdom on the occasion of the golden jubilee of the first conquest of Everest by a British expedition team.
"We in Nepal join Her Majesty and the friendly people of the UK in celebrating this joyous occasion, which symbolises the close ties of friendship and cooperation," the King said in his message.
Queen Elizabeth has also sent a message to the Nepalese King and the people wishing for a peaceful and prosperous future for the country.
"The expedition was a historic illustration of the close ties between our countries," she said.
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