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Garhwal Himalaya |
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Garhwal lies in the centre of the Indian
Himalaya. In the Hindu scriptures spiritual tranquility is
always associated with these snowy mountains and there are
numerous popular Hindu shrines located in Garhwal. The earliest
recorded travel in the Himalaya is that of the Indian guru
Adi Shankracharya, who crossed Mana Pass from Badrinath to
Guge district in Tibet in 800. Jesuit priests from Europe
–Antonio de Andrade and Manuel Marques – crossed
Mana Pass to Guge in Tsaparang province in Tibet in 1624.
In more recent times mountaineers have been visiting and climbing
in this area for many years. |
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North Garhwal consists of peaks such
as Kamet (7756m/25447ft) and Mukut Parvat (7242m/23761ft).
Many other high peaks here have not been climbed. Large glaciers
such as the Bhagirath Kharak and the Arwa valleys have several
peaks, including the Chaukhamba group, Kunaling and the Arwa
Tower. The Hindu temple of Badrinath also attracts many pilgrims
to this region. |
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A large number of glaciers edge their
way into the Gangotri region from all sides. Many mountaineering
parties have visited this area since it was opened to foreigners
about two decades ago. The famous peaks here are Thalay Sagar
(6904m/22652ft), Bhrigupanth (6772m/22219ft), Shivling and
Satopanth. At the head of the main Gangotri Glacier rise the
peaks of Chaukhamba. Its Peaks 1 - (7138m/32420ft), 2 –
(7068m/23190ft), 3 - (6974m/22882ft), and 4 - (6854m/22488ft)
have proved a challenge for the best climbers. Kedarnath Peak
(6940m/22770ft), on the southern divide of the Gangotri Glacier,
has also been climbed from its southern approach, which is
more difficult. The Gangotri temple is a popular pilgrim destination
too. |
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Another landmark in Garhwal is Kamet,
which stands tall over the Saraswati Valley. Kamet peak was
attempted several times and finally in 1931 Frank Smythe and
Eric Shipton reached the summit. RL Holdsworth, who was with
them, famously smoked a pipe on the summit. |
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Toward the north is the Jadh Ganga Valley,
surveyed by JB Auden in 1939. It was visited again in 1990
when Trimukhi Parvat East was climbed. The next year an army
team climbed the main peak. |
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The valleys to the extreme
west of the Garhwal have some lovely peaks, where many students
and mountaineers have trained. The Bandarpunch (6316m/20722ft)
have been climbed a couple of times. This area is very convenient
for a quick trip from Delhi. |
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