Impatiens Nimspurjai: Himalayan Plant Named After Nirmal Purja

There has been a recently discovered plant from the Himalayas which has been given the name Impatiens nimspurjai to pay homage to famous Nepalese mountaineer, Nirmal “Nimsdai” Purja who was among the most renowned climbers of his era. This discovery was made in Nepal’s Myagdi district at an altitude of 2,800-2,900 meters in the Impatiens genus of plants which have a common name of tiuri in Nepal. Researchers Bhakta Bahadur Raskoti and Rita Ale discovered the plant and this honor came just after the death of Purja in the Broad Peak avalanche in Pakistan.

What Is Impatiens Nimspurjai?

• Impatiens nimspurjai is a new Himalayan plant species named after Nirmal Purja.
• This species of plant belongs to the Impatiens genus of flowering plants that exist across many parts of Asia. The Impatiens plants in Nepal are known by the name tiuri.
• This discovery makes the area important botanically since it is already famous for its majestic Himalayan landscape and its biodiversity.

Where Was the Plant Discovered?

• The plant was discovered in the Myagdi district of Nepal at an altitude of 2,800-2,900 meters.
• Myagdi is located in the province of Gandaki, Nepal and is home to the areas of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri mountain range. This place is known for trekking paths, waterfalls, villages, rivers, and natural hot springs.

How Did Impatiens Nimspurjai Get Discovered?

• It has been discovered by two researchers named Bhakta Bahadur Raskoti and Rita Ale.
• The naming of a newly discovered plant species after Purja makes the relation of Himalayan diversity and the mountaineer whose career was very much related to high mountains of the world everlasting.

Why Did They Give That Name to the New Plant Species?

• In 2019, Purja became world-famous as he made a speed record for scaling 14 peaks higher than 8,000 meters in six months and six days.
• Purja was also a member of the historical all-Nepali team that did the first winter ascent of K2 in 2021.
• But his relation with the mountains is not just limited to climbing because through Nimsdai Foundation he also supported environmental activities like big mountain cleanup, which involves cleaning up abandoned expeditions’ wastes from high altitude places.

Final Expedition of Nirmal Purja

Purja died at the age of 43 when an avalanche hit an expedition on Broad Peak in Pakistan on July 30, 2026.

It was reported by his expedition company, Elite Exped. Ten people belonging to the expedition from different countries died in this accident.