8 Interesting Facts About Mount Kanchenjunga, India's Highest Mountain

1. Height And Ranking

[{"selector":"#anim-403358b5-41aa-4a4e-b43b-648c91808568","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-55918a72-03ac-4503-908c-0762661eecd4","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 211.93851%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Credits: Unsplash Standing at 8,586 metres (28,169 feet), Kanchenjunga is the third-highest mountain in the world, after Mount Everest and K2. It is part of the Himalayan range.

2. Name Meaning

[{"selector":"#anim-188b3619-35cf-4c82-ab1d-c3bee1b9c1e5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a30ec0dc-446c-41f4-8dfe-6a927463d029","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 167.14980%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Credits: Unsplash The name "Kanchenjunga" is derived from the Tibetan words meaning "Five Treasures of Snow," which refer to the five peaks of the mountain that are revered as sacred.

3. First Ascent

[{"selector":"#anim-3d5645dd-cfa5-438f-9e97-069b134100fb","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b470174c-91a6-4127-9d5e-10fa82a2f56f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 266.97521%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Credits: Unsplash The mountain was first successfully climbed on May 25, 1955, by a British expedition led by Charles Evans.

4. Glacial Beauty

[{"selector":"#anim-aa6b2bbf-5c10-4a1d-8e2a-21b719234653","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5a2a1008-30af-4d58-a6a4-bc529a49d874","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 266.97521%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Credits: Unsplash Kanchenjunga is home to numerous glaciers, including the Yalung Glacier, which feeds into the Kanchenjunga River.

5. Biodiversity Hotspot

[{"selector":"#anim-886903a3-c64f-46cf-b349-0be2da38bdab","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-af3a8c10-eb5b-4bfb-b8c7-ed09b2ec7f31","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 204.49168%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Credits: Unsplash The Kanchenjunga region is recognised for its rich biodiversity. It hosts a variety of flora and fauna, including rare species like the red panda and the snow leopard.

6. Cultural Significance

[{"selector":"#anim-673379c4-28da-482d-a01d-58f2497a400d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9dd97178-b600-42e6-a84d-e1ee00d438e0","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 167.14980%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Credits: Unsplash The mountain holds significant spiritual importance for the local communities, especially the Lepcha and Bhutia people. They consider it a sacred site and perform rituals to honour it.

7. Challenging Climbs

[{"selector":"#anim-dede8a6e-5d76-46f9-9f15-0f3fefacda8e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-57ffd4b1-2052-4314-92e0-a6a48e5e6eb2","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 204.49168%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Credits: Unsplash Kanchenjunga is known for its technical difficulty and unpredictable weather, making it one of the more challenging peaks to climb in the Himalayas.

8. Protected Area

[{"selector":"#anim-1ad3c9f4-0145-4ef0-b165-62c0924396dd","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-56757551-1eee-4d38-8f62-d1191f359191","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 204.49168%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Credits: Unsplash The Kanchenjunga National Park, established in 1988, covers a vast area around the mountain and is part of the larger Kanchenjunga Biosphere Reserve.

[{"selector":"#anim-017d52ba-4365-4861-90f8-f0b731f27663","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d7619aca-ab35-4763-9e83-c42aca347a1e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 358.64183%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Credits: Unsplash These facts highlight Kanchenjunga's majestic beauty, cultural significance, and ecological importance.