HIMALAYAN PEAKS

Peaks  and  Mountain  Passes
Since time immemorial, people have got attracted sages, adventurers and tourists to the Himalayas because of its mountain peaks and snowy glaciers. But to really experience the majestic Himalayan panorama, you have to visit the Himalayn lands of India, Nepal, Bhutan and Tibet. 10 highest peaks of the world are situated within the Himalayas and out of those 10, 8 are the part of the Nepalese Himalayas. Discover the beauty of the Himalayas from five exceptional viewpoints, Singu Chuli Base Camp, Machapuchare, Annapurna Base Camp, Everest Base Camp, the Rongbuk Glacier and Thang La, Tibet.

Mount Everest

Mount Everest is  the highest mountain in the world. Its elevation of 29,035 feet (8,850 meters) was determined using GPS satellite equipment on May 5, 1999. Mount Everest Base Camp has been a popular destination for trekkers since the very first expeditions to the Nepalese side of Everest in the 1953.

Mt. Everest has two main climbing routes, the southeast ridge from Nepal and the northeast ridge from Tibet, as well as many other less frequently climbed routes. Of the two main routes, the southeast ridge is technically easier and is the more frequently-used route.Most attempts are made during May before the summer monsoon season. While attempts are sometimes made after the monsoons in September and October, when the jet stream is again temporarily pushed northward, the additional snow deposited by the monsoons and the less stable weather patterns (tail end of the monsoon) makes climbing more difficult.

K2, Austin Godwin

K2 peak is locally known as "Chogo Ri", which means "The Great Mountain", at 8,611 m from sea level, is the 2nd highest mountain in the world. K2 stretches from Pakistan to China border in the mighty Karakoram range. K2 is a rocky mountain up to 6,000m, beyond which it becomes an ocean of snow. The traditional route to K2's base camp goes from Skardu, which is linked with Islamabad by a good road. From Skardu the route goes via Shigar-Dassu-Askole up to Concordia over the Baltoro glacier.

K2 was firstly discovered and measured by the Survey of India in 1856, and first named for English topographer Henry Godwin - Austen, who explored and surveyed the region.

K2 is taken from the first letter of Karakorum, and the number indicates that it was the second peak in the range to be measured. K2 was firstly climbed on July 31, 1954 by Italian climbers team lead by Ardito Desio and accompanying him were Lino Lacedelli and Achille Compagnoni. A March 1987 measurement of K2 indicated that it might be higher than Everest, but later that year, Everest was re-measured by a similar method and found to indeed be 778 ft (237m) taller. Godwin-Austen was an English topographer and geologist. An officer in the British army (1851-77), he was assigned to several government surveys in North India, especially among the Himalayas. He explored and surveyed the region of the Karakorum around K2, which is also known as Mt. Godwin-Austen after him.

Kangchenjunga

Kangchenjunga is the third highest mountain in the world. From 1838 until 1849, it was believed to be the highest. It is an enormous mountain mass, and many satellite peaks rise from its narrow icy ridges. It is located on the border of Nepal and Sikkim, just 46 miles northwest of Darjeeling. It is the most easterly of the great 8,000 meter peaks of the Himalaya. The remote area of Kangchenjunga in far-eastern Nepal sees very few trekkers and has no teahouses or inns. This area offers the cultural diversity of Rai, Limbu, Chhetri and Brahmin villagers, with the higher regions inhabited by a people of Tibeto-Mongoloid ancestry. This trek also has great natural history interest, with ecological zones from the subtropics to glacial wilderness.

Lhotse

Lhotse at 8511 metres is the fourth highest mountain in the world, seen in a telephoto lens from the summit of Pumori, reputed to be Nepal's "easiest" 7000 metre peak. The route follows across the bottom of the western Cwm, in the foreground, and then heads up the Lhotse face, to the left of centre, reaching the summit in the upper part of the photo to the left of centre. This is the same route one climbs to get to the summit of Everest; however the Everest route traverses to the left, over Lhotse's left shoulder, above the rock rib through the upper left of the photo, known as the Geneva Spur.

Sometimes mistakenly Lhotse has been identified as the south peak of the Everest massif. No serious attention was turned to climbing Lhotse until Everest had finally been ascended. Lhotse first climbed in 1956 as an alternative route towards the summit of Everest. In addition to the main summit, there are two subsidiary peaks, Lhotse Shar, which is immediately east of the main summit, and Nuptse, a high peak on the mountain's west ridge.

Makalu

Makalu is known as the fifth highest mountain peak in the world, an isolated peak, located just 14 miles east of Mount Everest. Makalu's size alone is impressive, but its pyramid like structure with four sharp ridges, makes this mountain all the more spectacular.

Makalu is the 5th highest mountain in the world and this is near by the top of the world (Everest). This region is blessed with an incredible diversity of natural beauty and culture. Due to its isolation and lack of tea houses this area still receives few trekkers. Limbus, Rai and Sherpa are the main habitants in this area. Walking north of the Arun river to Sedua and Nun, then crossing Barun La (4110m.) into the upper Barun Khola valley for a close look at Makalu.

This trek is difficulty without previous experience. This trek takes you to Makalu Base Camp (5250 m), now designated as Makalu Barun National Park and Conservation Area. Mt. Makalu (8463 m) is the fifth highest peak in the world. The Makalu Base camp trek is a true adventure with scenery so beautiful that it will never tire you.

The trek starts with a flight to Tumlingtar and heads up the Aurn River valley to Sedua and Num, then crossing Shipton La Pass (4210 m) into the upper Barun river valley for a close look at Makalu and Chamlang Himal. This trek visits one of the most remote and unfrequented areas of Nepal. The Barun valley is a part of a huge international protected area under the agreement between the governments of Nepal and China, which comprises of 2330 sq. km of National Park and 830 sq. km of conservation area in Nepal alone.

Cho Oyu

Cho Oyu is the perfect choice for the mountaineer with some experience at altitude who is looking to attempt an 8,000 meter peak. Climbers who have done well on Denali are good candidates to be successful on Cho Oyu. This is a classic Himalayan Giant and a great place to get experience with the extreme altitude found only in the Himalaya. Climbing Cho Oyu is commonly thought of as a pre-requisite for a realistic shot at Mt. Everest.

Dhaulagiri

Dhaulagiri, whose name means White Mountain, is the seventh highest mountain in the world. It is an enormous Himalayan massif, located in north central Nepal. It is the highest mountain located entirely within Nepal. After its discovery by the western world in 1808, it replaced Ecuador's Chimborazo (20,561 ft.) as the postulated highest mountain in the world. It maintained this standing for nearly 30 years, until the discovery of  Kangchenjunga (28,169 ft.), which was then falsely believed to be the world's highest mountain.

Dhaulagiri's crest stretches for thirty miles, lending structure to an otherwise tangled topography of twisting ridges, glaciers, and ice falls. Along the main crest, several pyramid-shaped peaks rise. Four of these summits, numbered from east to west, rise above 25,000 feet.

Manasulu

This area with rich in natural and cultural heritage was opened for the trekkers very recently. The trek begins from Gorkha. "Gorkha" the ancient kingdom of Shah Dynasty, the home country of great Gurkha Army has a mixed culture of Hindus and Buddhist. This is extended and strenuous trek, circling the Manaslu range was opened to trekking in 1992 along with Mustang. Going north, up the river valley of the Buri Gandaki and then behind Mt. Himalchuli (7893 m.), Peak 29 (7839 m.) and Mt. Manaslu (8118 m.) to cross the Larkya La Pass at 5213 m., this fascinating trek explores areas and the way of life unchanged for decades and maybe, even centuries.

Region lies with brilliant mountain vistas of the Ganesh and Manaslu Himal ranges and insights into the cultures of a cross-section of ethnic Nepalese tribes and people. The trail passes through the villages of Khani Gaon, Setibas, Nyak, Namru and Samagaon to cross the Larkya La (5213 m.) and then joins the river valley of the Dudh Khola. From here, the trail heads south to the Dudh Khola's confluence with the Marsyangdi River at the village of Thonje and continues through the villages of Chamje and Nayagaon to Besisahar  where you end your trek. This is a trek that offers much more than mountains.

Nanga Parbat

Nanga Parbat, whose name means Naked Mountain, is the ninth highest mountain in the world, and the westernmost mountain of the Himalayas. Its vast snowy face is a powerful spectacle when seen from the arid Indus Valley, approaching the mountain from the west. Here the mountain towers in isolation over 22,000 feet from the valley floor.

The mountain is easy to reach (China's Karakoram Highway approaches the base of the mountain from the north), but is not so easy to climb. Unstable glaciers and frequent storms and avalanches have proved hazardous, most notably to the German party who first attempted the peak. Herman Buhl successfully reached the summit, but this was only after having lost eleven climbers and fifteen porters during the ascent. Many other climbers have subsequently been killed on this mountain.

Annapurna

Annapurna is a series of peaks in the Himalaya, a 55 km (34 mi)-long massif of which the highest point, Annapurna I, stands at 8,091 m (26,538 ft), making it the 10th-highest summit in the world and one of the 14 "eight-thousanders". It is located east of a great gorge cut through the Himalaya by the Kali Gandaki River, which separates it from the Dhaulagiri massif. Annapurna is a Sanskrit name which literally means "full of food" (feminine form), but is normally translated as Goddess of the Harvests. In Hinduism, Annapurna is a goddess of fertility and agriculture and an avatar of Durga.

The entire massif and surrounding area are protected within the 7,629 sq. km Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP), the first and largest conservation area in Nepal, established in 1986 by the King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation. The Annapurna Conservation Area is home to several world-class treks, including the Annapurna Circuit.

The Annapurna peaks are among the world's most dangerous mountains to climb, with a fatality rate of 40%. The Annapurna massif contains six major peaks over 7,200 m.

Climbing peaks
Amadablam
Annapurna I
Cho Oyu
Dhaulagiri
Everest
Kanchenjunga
Lhotse
Machhapuchhare
Makalu
Manaslu

New climbing peaks
Lhotse Middle 6441m, Annapurna Himal, Gandaki
Peak 38 7590m, Solukhumbu, Sagarmatha
Hunchi 7036m, Solukhumbu, Sagarmatha
Numri 6677m, Solukhumbu, Sagarmatha
Teng Kangpoche 6500m, Solukhumbu, Sagarmatha
P2 6251m, Gorkha, Gandaki
Thapa 6012m, Mustang, Dhaulagiri
Nhesergu 5927m, Solukhumbu, Sagarmatha
Thorang 5751m, Manang, Gandaki

Trekking peaks
Hiunchuli 6441m, Annapurna Himal, Gandaki
Singu Chuli (Fluted Peak) 6501m, Annapurna Himal, Gandaki
Mera Peak 6654m, Khumbu Himal, Sagarmatha
Kusum Kangro 6367m, Khumbu Himal, Sagarmatha
Kwangde 6011m, Khumbu Himal, Sagarmatha
Chulu West 6419m, Manang District, Gandaki
Chulu East 6584m, Manang District, Gandaki
Imja Tse (Island Peak) 6183m, Khumbu Himal, Sagarmatha
Parchemuche 6187m, Rolwaling Himal, Janakpur
Lobuje 6199m, Khumbu Himal, Sagarmatha
Ramdung 5925m, Rolwaling Himal, Janakpur
Pisang 6091m, Manang District, Gandaki
Tharpu Chuli (Tent Peak) 6091m, Manag District, Gandaki
Khonga Tse (Mehra Peak) 5849m, Khumbu Himal, Sagarmatha
Gonja La Chuli (Naya Kanga) 5844m, Langtang Himal, Bagmati
Pokalde 5806m, Langtang Himal, Bagmati
Mardi Himal 5587m, Annapurna Himal, Sagarmatha
Paldor Peak 5896m, Langatng Himal, Bagmati