Friday, June 3 2005 20:39 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kathmandu: Taking their love to new heights, a Nepalese couple tied the knot on the world's highest peak -- the Mount Everest.

Mona Mulepati and Pem Dorje Sherpa, both 24, exchanged their wedding vows at 8,848 metres on the summit of Mt Everest.

Mona, the first non-Sherpa girl to scale the Everest, reached the summit along with Pem and 27-year-old Kami Sherpa, on Monday (May 30, 2005).

"I am very happy to marry him on the Everest. I couldn't make out whether it was a dream or real life when I reached the top," said the bride.

The couple informed their families only after the wedding.

After reaching the summit, they both briefly took off their oxygen masks and donned plastic garlands. The groom then put vermilion on the bride's forehead.

Four time summiteer Kami Sherpa was the only witness to the wedding.

"We were there only for 10 minutes, just enough for us to get married and our friend to take pictures," Mona said.

The couple was part of the Rotary Centennial Everest Expedition. They scaled the peak with 45 other mountaineers.

Mona met Pem two years ago at a mountaineering training camp.