They went up the tallest mountain in the world as a climber and her Sherpa guide - and came down man and wife.

Nepalese girl Moni Mulepati, 24, and her secret beau Pem Dorje Sherpa, 23, created a world record when they tied the knot on Mt Everest.

Though husband-wife couples have been making periodic assaults on the 8,848 m peak, this is the first time a pair ever said "I do" on the highest peak in the world.

The couple pulled off the feat Monday, when they summitted the peak as part of the three-member Rotary Centennial Expedition 2005 marking the 100th anniversary of the founding of the social service organization. Their romance became public only on Thursday when the team returned home to Kathmandu.

It is a three-in-one triumph for Moni, who is also the first non-Sherpa Nepalese girl to summit Mt Everest.

At least three other Nepalese women have performed the feat before her but they are all from the Sherpa community, the hardy mountainous people of Tibetan origin known for their outstanding ability to withstand high-altitude conditions.

Moni belongs to the Newar community, the original residents of Kathmandu characterised by their business acumen and excellence in architecture and fine arts.

Though Moni called up her father from the top of the peak after her ascent to give him the good news, she did not tell him about her marriage. The newly weds had been secretly courting for about a year - the time they were getting ready for the expedition.

Though they planned to get married at the top, they kept the plan a secret in case they failed to scale the peak.

Besides the usual mountaineering equipment, they had also smuggled in garlands and vermilion. After reaching the top at 11 a.m., they exchanged vows at the spot closest to heaven in a 10-minute ceremony.

The wedding has made ripples in conservative Nepalese society also due to the fact that the couple is from different castes. While the Newars are considered elites, the Sherpas, despite their mountaineering prowess, belong to the lower rungs.

The couple continued to make news even after their descent to the base camp. The helicopter flying there to pick them up had a mishap and a second one had to be sent to bring them back.

On their return, the couple told the media they were not only happy with the venue of their marriage but also the message it conveyed from the top of the world: The mountains know no caste and neither does love.