I grew up in the capital of Nepal and looked at the Himalayas. Since I left, I have missed the panoramic view of some of the highest peaks on Earth.

Every time I visit Kathmandu, I want to catch a glimpse of the dramatic mountains. But these days, there is usually no luck.

The culprit is severe air pollution, hanging above the smog in the area.

It happens even in the spring and autumn months, which once provided clear skies.

Just last April, I had to land nearly 20 international flights in Kathmandu because of the dangerous weather that affected the visibility of the airport.

The hotel I signed in was at a reasonable height and could see the mountains on a clear day, but there was no such day during my two-week stay.

Even from the main perspective of Nagarkot outside Kathmandu, everything that can be seen is haze, as if the mountains do not exist.

"I no longer admire the sunrise, sunset and the views of the Himalayas like I used to," said Yogendra Shakya, who has run a hotel in Nagarkot since 1996.

“Since you can’t have these things because of the smog right now, I’ve renamed them history and culture because there are tourism products here too.”

During my early trip a year ago, I wished I could see the mighty Himalayan peaks on a trek in the charming Annapurna region - but there was almost no luck there either.

The hazy conditions in the area become increasingly intense and last longer, greatly reducing visibility, scientists say.

Haze is formed by a combination of pollutants such as dust and smoke particles that reduce visibility to less than 5,000m (16,400 feet). During the dry season, it still stagnates in the sky - now lasting longer due to climate change.

June to September is the rainy season in the region, with dark clouds in the monsoon rather than covering the mountains, with less visibility.

Traditionally, March to May and October to November are the best times for business because that is when the sky remains clear and visibility is the best.

However, as temperatures rise, insufficient rainfall and worsen air pollution, the spring months now see thick atomization with lower visibility. These conditions began as early as December.

Lucky Chhetri, a groundbreaking guide to women hiking in Nepal, said hazy conditions caused a 40% drop in business.

She added: "In one case last year, we had to compensate a group of hikers because our guide could not show them the Himalayas due to hazy conditions."

An Australian visitor has visited Nepal more than twelve times since 1986 and described the mountain not being considered "mainly coveted".

"It's not like it was ten years ago, but now the haze seems to have taken over, which is a very disappointing for tourists like me," said John Carrol.

Krishna KC, provincial president of Nepal Hikers Association of Gandaki Province, said the hiking industry is in serious trouble.

"Our member hikers are frustrated because not seeing the Himalayas means no business. Many of them are even considering changing careers," he told the BBC.

On the Indian side, in the central Himalayas, hoteliers and tourism operators say the haze is now dense and returns faster than before.

"Our mantra is long, unlike in the past, and then there is heavy downpour. So the fog lasts longer due to the infrequent rainfall," said Malika Virdi, who is responsible for the tourism business run by a community in Uttarakhand.

But, Ms. Verdi said the tourists are lasting - many people didn't catch up with the mountains and tried their luck again.

The influence of the Himalayas in western Pakistan is relatively small because the mountains are relatively far from the city.

But locals say even the range that is easily seen from places like Peshawar and Gilgit is often no longer visible.

Asif Shuja, former head of the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency, said: “The haze flakes are still hanging for a longer period and we cannot see the mountains of the past.”

South Asian cities often rank among the highest levels of air pollution in the world.

Public health in the area is severely affected by the toxic air, which often leads to travel disruptions and school closures.

Vehicle and industrial emissions, dust and dry gravel ducts from infrastructure construction, and open combustion of waste are the main sources of air pollution throughout the year.

This is aggravated by soot from large forest fires - they are increasing due to the longer dry seasons - as well as the burning of crop residues after harvest among farmers in northern India, Pakistan and Nepal.

Weather conditions keep these pollutants warmer air above cool air traps and limit vertical air movement - preventing pollution from dispersing.

"Dangerous storms in South Asia are increasing, and this trend is expected to continue due to climate change and other factors," Dr Someshwor Das of the South Asian Meteorological Association told the BBC.

According to the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology in Nepal, the major tourism hub in western Nepal recorded hazy days at the airport in Pokara in 2024, according to the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology in Nepal, 168 years old from 23 years old in 2020 and 84 years old in 2021.

Experts believe that given their location in a heavily populated and polluted area, the Himalayas may be the most affected mountain range in the world.

This may mean that the twinkling views of the Himalayas may now be limited to photos, paintings and postcards.

“We feel introverted when we can’t show our customers the mountains they’ve paid us for.”

“We can do nothing about the haze.”