A Nepalese man who conquered the world's highest peak despite a handicap has been honoured with this year's Everest Award.

Thirty three-year-old Nawang Sherpa, who lost his left leg in a motorcycle accident three years back, reached the summit of Mount Everest on May 16, General Secretary of the Everest Summiteers' Association (ESA) Diwas Pokhrel said.

Nawang is the first without a leg, to scale the Everest and climbed the peak with the help of an artificial leg. A few years ago, US citizen Tom Whitteker, who is also disabled, had set a world record by successfully climbing the 8,848 m peak.

Hailing from Solukhumbu district in east Nepal, ascended to the peak as a member of the Everest Friendship Beyond Borders Expedition.

The annual award installed by the ESA to commemorate the first ascent of the Everest by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa, honours Everest Summiteers who set unique records. Nepal on Saturday observes the 51st year of the ascent to the Everest.

A Tenzing-Hillary marathon near the Everest base camp, book exhibition and a photo exhibition at the International Mountaineering Museum in Pokhara are some of the highlights of Saturday's celebrations.

Nawang will be handed over the award, which carries a cash prize of Rs 10,000, a gold medal and an appreciation letter at a function next week, according to ESA.