KATHMANDU, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) -- Nepal has permitted 204 climbers by Tuesday to climb ten mountains in the country, including the world's highest Mount Qomolangma, during the fall climbing season which runs from September to November.

The climbers are from 45 countries and regions and 43 of them are women, said Himal Gautam, director at the Department of Tourism.

"We have just started issuing the permits. The number will grow in the days to come," Gautam told Xinhua, noting most of the permits were issued for Mount Manaslu, the world's eighth highest at 8,163 meters, and one for the 8848.86-meter-high Mount Qomolangma that straddles Nepal and China.

Starting on Monday, foreigners climbing Mount Qomolangma in fall need to pay 7,500 U.S. dollars, up from 5,500 dollars, while the climbing fees in spring have risen from 11,000 dollars to 15,000 dollars. ■