Kanchenjunga Expedition is also known under similarly-spelled names, such as Kangchenjunga or Kinchinjunga. Situated within the Great Himalayan Range, it is the world’s third highest peak. The peak’s massif consists of four summits, three of which are over 8,000 metres high. Kanchenjunga I is the highest, at 8,586 metres. Kanchenjunga West takes the second place at 8,505 metres. Next is Kanchenjunga South – 8494 metres. Finally, the lowest one is Kangbachen 7,903 metres. The summits’ location resembles a cross, with each summit signifying one arm. There are four main ridges connecting the summits to adjacent peaks. Kanchenjunga’s ridges are rich in glaciers.
Once assumed to be the highest mountain in the world, Kanchenjunga, meaning ‘five treasures of the high snow’ is located between Nepal and India. This magnificent mountain was first climbed in 1955 by Joe Brown and George Band of the British Kanchenjunga Expedition– 50 years after the first expedition made an attempt in climbing Kanchenjunga in 1905.
Mythical beliefs about Mount Kanchenjunga
The inhabitants of the surrounding Indian and Nepal regions recount seeing a mysterious creature roaming the slopes of Kanchenjunga. In 1925, a British expedition sighted a bipedal figure, which the locals described as the mountain’s demon. Local people believe that the mountain is a place where gods dwell.
The story of the valley of immortality is another commonly known legend associated with the mountain. Known as Beyul Demoshong in Tibetan, it is believed to be hidden somewhere in Kanchenjunga’s snowy slope.
Trip Description
Kangchenjunga Expedition was first scaled on May 25, 1955 by Joe Brown and George Band of a British expedition team. The British expedition honored the beliefs of the Sikkimese people, who treat the summit as sacred. This British expedition team stopped a few feet below from the actual summit. The other expedition parties since then have followed this tradition and none of the expedition teams have summited Mt. Kanchanjunga from Sikkim side till date. The Japanese expedition team took up the challenge and did expeditions in 1973, 1974 and 1976 during which they climbed Yalung Kang. A German Expedition team climbed Yalung Kang in the year 1975. Similarly in 1977 an Indian army team climbed the Yalung Kang peak successfully.
Trip Highlights
- Third highest mountain in the world.
- Remote and challenging trek into the mountain.
- Unique Limbu villages on trek.
- Awe inspiring scenery getting to on the mountain, and on the mountain.
- The ‘Five Treasures refer to the five peaks” Kanchenjunga I (8586m), Kanchenjunga West (8505m), Kanchenjunga South (8494m), Central (8482m) and Kangbachen (7902m).
- Three of the five peaks that make up Kanchenjunga Himal, Kanchenjunga 1, Central (8482m) and South (8494m) are on the border, while the West (8505m) and Kangbachen (7902m) are in Nepal.
