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Kanchenjunga
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Kangchenjunga (Nepali:कञ्चनजङ्घा)
SewaLungma (Limbu language) is the third highest mountain in the world (after
Mount Everest and K2) with an altitude of 8,586 metres (28,169 feet).
Kangchenjunga is generally regarded as the highest mountain in India and the
second highest peak in Nepal. Kangchenjunga translated means "The Five
Treasures of Snows", as it contains five peaks, four of them over 8,450
metres. The treasures represent the five repositories of god, which are gold,
silver, gems, grain, and holy books. Kangchenjunga is also called Sewalungma in
local Limbu language and considered sacred in Kirant religion. Three of these
five peaks (main, central, and south) are on the border of North Sikkim
district of Sikkim, India and Taplejung District of Nepal, while the other two
are completely in Taplejung District. Nepal is home to the Kangchenjunga
Conservation Area Project run by the World Wildlife Fund, in association with
the Nepal Mountaineering Association and HMG in Nepal, the sanctuary is also
home to the Red Panda and other snow animals, birds and plants. India's side of
Kangchenjunga also has a protected park area called the Khangchendzonga
National Park.
Although Kangchenjunga is the official spelling adopted by
Douglas Freshfield, A.M. Kellas, and the Royal Geographical Society that gives
the best indication of the Tibetan pronunciation, there are a number of
alternative spellings which include Kangchen Dzö-nga, Khangchendzonga, Kanchenjanga,
Kachendzonga, Kanchenjunga or Kangchanfanga. The final word on the use of the
name Kangchenjunga came from His Highness Sir Tashi Namgyal, the Maharaja or
chogyal of Sikkim, who stated that "although junga had no meaning in
Tibetan, it really ought to have been Zod-nga (treasure, five) Kang-chen (snow,
big) conveyed the meaning correctly". Following consultations with a
Lieutenant-Colonel J.L.R. Weir (HMG political agent to Sikkim), he agreed that
it was best to leave it as Kangchenjunga, and thus the name remained so by
acceptance and usage.
Until 1852, Kangchenjunga was assumed to be the highest
mountain in the world, but calculations made by the British Great Trigonometric
Survey in 1849 came to the conclusion that Mount Everest was the highest and Kangchenjunga
the third-highest. Kangchenjunga was first climbed on May 25, 1955 by Joe Brown
and George Band of a British expedition. The British expedition honoured the
beliefs of the Sikkimese, who hold the summit sacred, by stopping a few feet
short of the actual summit. Most successful summit parties since then have
followed this tradition.
The five peaks of Kangchenjunga are as follows:
|
Name of peak |
Height (m) |
Height (ft) |
|
Kangchenjunga Main |
8,586 |
28,169 |
|
Kangchenjunga West (Yalung Kang) |
8,505 |
27,904 |
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Kangchenjunga Central (Middle) |
8,482 |
27,828 |
|
Kangchenjunga South |
8,494 |
27,867 |
|
Kangbachen |
7,903 |
25,925 |
The huge massif of Kangchenjunga is buttressed by great
ridges running roughly due east to west and north to south, forming a giant
'X'. These ridges contain a host of peaks between 6,000 and 8,000 meters. On
the east ridge in Sikkim, is Siniolchu (6,888 m/22,600 ft). The west ridge culminates
in the magnificent Jannu (7,710 m/25,294 ft) with its imposing north face. To
the south, clearly visible from Darjeeling, are Kabru North (7,338 m/24,075
ft), Kabru South (7,316 m/24,002 ft) and Rathong peaks (6,678 m/21,910 ft). The
north ridge, after passing through the minor subpeak Kangchenjunga North (7741
m/25,397 ft), contains The Twins and Tent Peak, and runs up to the Tibetan
border by the Jongsong La, a 6,120 m (20,080 ft) pass.
Kangchenjunga is known for its famous views from the hill
station of Darjeeling. On a clear day, it presents an image not as much of a
mountain but of a white wall hanging from the sky. The people of Sikkim revere
Kangchenjunga as a sacred mountain. Permission to climb the mountain from the
Indian side is rare, but sometimes allowed.
Because of its remote location in Nepal and difficult access
from India, the Kangchenjunga region is not much explored by the trekkers. It
has, therefore, retained much of its pristine beauty. In Sikkim too, trekking
into the Kangchenjunga region has just been permitted. The Goecha La trek is
gaining popularity amongst tourists. It goes to the Goecha La Pass which is
located right in front of the huge southeast face of Kangchenjunga. Another
trek to Green Lake Basin has recently been opened for trekking. This goes to
the Northeast side of Kangchenjunga along the famous Zemu glacier.
The Kangchenjunga Conservation Area (KCA) covers 2,035 km²
surrounding the mountain on the Nepalese side.
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