Mountains of Tibet.

Tibet is the home of the highest mountains of the world, therefore,is called “Roof of the World”. Tibetan mountains often have their stories and consider very sacred where deities are believed to dwell. Shouting in ,climbing and manipulating of the mountian's are avoided in fear of evoking the deities resulting in disasters. These unexplored moutain's remained hidden for many centuries and forbidden. Chinese law was recently opened them to the world. Mersmerising rare beauty of such mountains help influx of foreign tourists and thus adding economic boom on tourism sector in Tibet.

The highest of the Tibetan mountains in alphabetical order:

Changtse
Cherko la
Cho Oyu
Chomolhari
Mount Everest
Gauri Mount Gephel
Gurla Mandhata
Gyachung Kang
Gyala Peri
Mount Kailash
Kangshung Face, Mount Everest
Khumbutse
Kula Kangri
Labuche Kang
Lhotse
Makalu
Melungtse
Namcha Barwa
North Col
Mount Nyanchenthangla
Salasungo
Shishapangma
Yangra

Changtse (Tibetan “north peak”) is a mountain situated between the Main Rongbuk and East Rongbuk Glaciers in Tibet immediately north of Mount Everest. It is connected to Mount Everest via the North Col. Also known as Bei Peak in Chinese.The given elevation of 7,543 metres is from modern Chinese mapping. Some authorities give 7,583 metres.The Changtse Glacier flows north into the East Rongbuk glacier. It is possible that the second highest lake in the world is in the Changtse Glacier at 6,216 metres (20,394 feet).

Cherko la, a mountain pass in Tibet forms the watershed between Sutlej and Indus rivers.

Cho Oyu is the sixth highest mountain in the world. Cho Oyu lies in the Himalaya and is 20 km west of Mount Everest, at the border between China and Nepal. Cho Oyu means “Turquoise Goddess” in Tibetan. Just a few kilometres west of Cho Oyu is Nangpa La(5,716m/18,753ft), where on 30 September 2006,75 Tibetan refugees trying to cross this pass were gunshot by the Chinese armies in front of dozens of International mountaineers on broad day light.17 year old nun,Ani Kelsang Namtso la ,was killed on the spot and few others were injured.Many including young children were detained by the Chinese.When asked questions to some surivors reached in India via Nepal for their reasons for escaping ,the mere answer was to see His Holiness the Dalai Lama and to get the better education.One of the foreign mountaineer eyewitnessed the incidence had filmed the killings of innocent Tibetans, released video footage on mounteverest.net or else could be found in youtube.com. a glaciated pass that serves as the main trading route between the Tibetans and the Khumbu's Sherpas where on September 30,2006.

Chomolhari,the Tibetan translation is mountain of the Goddess is a mountain of the Himalayan straddling the border between Tibet and the Par district of Bhutan. The mountain is sacred to Tibetan Buddhists who make an annual pilgrimage from Phari Dzong. The north face rises over 2700 metres (9,000 ft) above the barren plains. There is no evidence that the mountain, whose official elevation is very close to a round 24,000 feet, has ever been accurately measured. Its true elevation may be nearer to 7,000 metres.

Mount Everest or Qomolangma or Chomolungma (ཇོ་མོ་གླང་མ) pronounced as (Jongmalunga) is the highest mountain on Earth, as measured by the height of its summit above sea level. The mountain, which is part of the Himalaya range in High Asia, is located on the border between Nepal and Tibet.
Tibetan name for the mount Everest is Chomolangma(ཇོ་མོ་གླིང་མ, meaning “Mother of the Universe) Gauri Sankar ,the Tibetan name is Jomo Tseringma is a mountain in the Himalayas, the second highest peak of the Rolwaling Himal, behind Melungtse (7,181m). The name comes from Sanskrit for the Goddess and her Consort, denoting the sacred regard to which is afforded it by the peoples of Tibet and Nepal.

Mount Gephel is a small Tibetan Mountain located 8 kilometers west of Lhasa in Tibet. Drepung Monastery lies at its foot.

Gurla Mandhata, or Naimona'nyi in Tibetan is the highest peak of the Nalakankar Himal, a small subrange of the Himalaya in Tibet, near the northwest corner of Nepal. It is the 34 highest peak in the world (using a 500 metre prominence cutoff). It is also notable for being well within the Tibetan Pateau(most peaks of similar height lie nearer to or outside the edge of the Plateau) and relatively far away from other peaks of height greater than 7500 metres. It sits roughly across Lake Manosarawar from the sacred peak of Mont Kailash. The Tibetan name, Naimona'nyi, is said to come from naimo = “herbal medicine”, na = “black”, nyi = “heaped-up slabs”, giving “the mountain of heaped-up slabs of black herbal medicine.”

Gyachung Kang is a Mountain in the Mahalangur Himal, a subrange of the Himalaya, and is the highest peak between Cho Oyo (8,201 m) and Mount Everest (8,848 m). It lies on the border between Nepal and Tibet.As the fifteenth highest peak in the world, it is also the highest peak that is not an eight thousander; hence it is far less well-known than the lowest of the eight-thousanders, which are only about 100 m (328 ft) higher.

Gyala Peri is the smaller sister peak to Namcha Barwa; the two peaks are the easternmost 7000 metre peaks in the Himalaya range.
The height of this peak is also sometimes listed as 7150 m.
Gyala Peri lies just north of the Great Bend of the Yarlung Tsangpo River, the main river of southeastern Tibet, which becomes the Brahamaputra in India. It is across the river from the higher Namcha Barwa.

Mount Kailash ( Tibetan: Gang Rinpoche, གངས་རིན་པོ་ཆེ། is a peak in the Gangdisê mountains in Tibet, the source of some of the longest rivers in Asia—the Indus River, the Sutlej River, a tributary of the Ganges River, and the Brahamaputra river and is considered as a sacred place in four religions—Buddhism,Bön,Hinduism, and Jainism faith. In Hindu mythology, it is considered to be the abode of Lord Shiva. The mountain lies near Lake Manasowar and lake Rakshatal in Tibet. It is the only significant mountain peak never to be scaled by man as a deference to Buddhist and Hindu beliefs.

The word Kailāśā means “crystal” in Sanskrit. The Tibetan name for the mountain is Gangs Rin-po-che, meaning “precious jewel of snows”. Another local name for the mountain is Tisé (Tibetan: ཏི་སེ་) mountain. In the Jain tradition, the mountain is referred to as Ashtapada.

Religious significance

In Buddhism
The Trantric Buddhists believe that Kailash is the home of the Buddha Demchok (also known as Demchog or Chakrasamvara), who represents supreme bliss. It is said that Milarepa, champion of Tantric Buddhism, arrived in Tibet to challenge Naro Bonchung, champion of the Bön religion of Tibet. The two magicians engaged in a terrifying sorcerous battle, but neither was able to gain a decisive advantage. Finally, it was agreed that whoever could reach the summit of Kailash most rapidly would be the victor. While Naro-Bonchung sat on a magic drum and soared up the slope, Milarepa's followers were dumbfounded to see him sitting still and meditating. Yet when Naro-Bonchung was nearly at the top, Milarepa suddenly moved into action and overtook him by riding on the rays of the Sun, thus winning the contest and bringing Buddhism to Tibet. [Note: There appears to be some confusion in the account above between the stories of Milarepa (Great Tibetan Yogi) and Padmasambahava (also known as Guru Rinpoche, or Precious Guru by the Tibetans), who is said to have brought Tantric Buddhism to Tibet.]

In Bon faith
The Bön, the religion which predates Buddhism in Tibet, maintain that the entire mystical region and the Nine story Swastika Mountain is the seat of all Spiritual power.

In Hinduism
According to Hinduism,Shiva, the destroyer of evil and sorrow, resides at the summit of a legendary mountain named Kailāśā. This Kailāśā is regarded in many sects of Hinduism as paradise, the ultimate destination of souls and the spiritual center of the world.
Some traditions also aver that the mountain is Shiva's linga and Lake Manasowarbelow is the yoni of His consort. According to one description found in the Puranas, Mount Kailash is the center of the world, its four faces are made of crystal, ruby, gold, and lapis lazuli. It is the pillar of the world; is 84,000 leagues high; is the center of the world mandala; and is located at the heart of six mountain ranges symbolizing a lotus. The four rivers flowing from Kailash then flow to the four quarters of the world and divide the world into four regions.
The largest and most important rock-cut temple at Ellora in Maharastra is named after Mount Kailash. Many of its sculptures and reliefs depict episodes relating to Shiva and Parvati, including the demon Ravana's attempt to shake Mount Kailash.

In Jainism
The Jains who refer to the Kailash as Mount Ashtapada believe the founder of their faith, Rishabhadeva attained Nirvana at this place.

Pilgrimage
Every year, thousands make a pilgrimage to Kailash, following a tradition going back thousands of years. Pilgrims of several religions believe that circumambulating Mount Kailash on foot is a holy ritual that will bring good fortune. The peregrination is made in a clockwise direction by Hindus and Buddhists. Followers of the Jain and Bonpo religions circumambulate the mountain in a counterclockwise direction. The path around Mount Kailash is 52 km (32 mi) long. Some pilgrims believe that the entire walk around Kailash should be made in a single day. This is not easy. A person in good shape walking fast would take perhaps 15 hours to complete the 52 km trek. Some of the devout do accomplish this feat, little daunted by the uneven terrain, altitude sickness and harsh conditions faced in the process. Indeed, other pilgrims venture a much more demanding regimen, performing body-length prostrations over the entire length of the circumambulation: The pilgrim bends down, kneels, prostrates full-length, makes a mark with his fingers, rises to his knees, prays, and then crawls forward on hands and knees to the mark made by his/her fingers before repeating the process. It requires at least four days of physical endurance to perform the circumambulation while following this regimen. The mountain is located in a particularly remote and inhospitable area of the Tibetan Himalayas. A few modern amenities, such as benches, resting places and refreshment kiosks, exist to aid the pilgrims in their devotions. According to all religions that revere the mountain, setting foot on its slopes is a dire sin. It is claimed that many people who ventured to defy the taboo have died in the process.
Following the Chinese army entering Tibet in 1950, and political and border disturbances across the Chinese-Indian boundary, pilgrimage to the legendary abode of Lord Shiva was stopped from 1959 to 1980. Thereafter a limited number of Indian pilgrims have been allowed to visit the place, under the supervision of the Chinese and Indian governments either by a lengthy and hazardous trek over the Himalayan terrain, travel by land from Kathmandu or from Lhasa where flights from Kathmandu are available to Tibet and thereafter travel over the great Tibetan plateau (ranging 10,000 to 16,000 feet) by car. The journey takes four night stops, finally arriving at Tarchen (4600 m).
Walking around the holy mountain (a part of its official park) has to be done on foot or pony; it takes three days of trekking starting from a height of around 15,000 ft to crossing the Dolma pass (19,000 ft) and encamping for two nights en route. First, near the meadow of Dirapuk gompa—2 or 3 km before the pass and second, after crossing the pass and going downhill as far as possible (viewing Gauri Kund in the distance).

Kangshung Face

The Kangshung Face is the East Face of Mount Everest, one of the Tibetan sides of the mountain. It is 3,350 metres (11,000 ft) from its base on the Kangshung Glacier to the summit. It is a broad face, topped on the right (when seen from below) by the upper Northeast Ridge, and on the left by the Southeast Ridge and the South Col. Most of the upper part of the face is composed of hanging glaciers, while the lower part consists of steep rock buttresses with couloirs between them. It is considered to be a dangerous route of ascent, compared to the standard North Col and South Col routes, and it is the most remote face of the mountain, with a longer approach.
The eastern side of the mountain was relatively unknown to the outside world until the 20th century, owing to the complex and isolated terrain and climate of Tibet, and Buddhist reverence for the mountains prohibiting their ascent.

Khumbutse
Khumbutse is the first mountain west (10 km) of Mount Everest. It lies in Basum County of the Shigatse Prefecture, Tibet, at the border with Nepal.

Kula Kangri
Kula Kangri is claimed by many authorities to be the highest mountain in Bhutan but this is disputed by others, who claim that Kula Kangri is wholly in Tibet. The first ascent was in 1937 by Chapman and Dawa Lama. The mountain occupies two ranges, the Himalaya and the Bhutan Himalaya.

Labuche Kang
Labuche Kang (or Lapche Kang, Lobuche Kang I, Choksiam) is a high peak of the Himalay in Tibet at the elevation of 7,367m(24,170ft), on the main chain on the watershed seperating the Sub-Continent of India from Tibet. It lies in a little-known region known as the Labuche Himal.

Lhotse
Lhotse is the fourth highest mountain on Earth and is connected to Mount Everest via the South Col. In addition to the main summit at 8,516 metres above sea level, Lhotse Middle (East) is 8,414 metres and Lhotse Shar is 8,383 metres. It is located at the border between Tibet and Nepal.

Makalu
Makalu is the fifth highest mountain in the world and is located 22 km (14 mi) east of Mount Everest, on the border between Nepal and Tibet at the elevation of 8,462m(27,765ft). Makalu is an isolated peak whose shape is a four-sided pyramid.
Makalu has two notable subsidiary peaks. Kangchungtse, or Makalu II, 7,678 m (25,190 ft), lies about 3 km (2 mi) north-northwest of the main summit. Rising about 4 km (2.5 mi) north-northeast of the main summit across a broad plateau, and connected to Kangchungtse by a narrow saddle, is Chomo Lonzo 7,818m (25,650 ft).

Melungtse
Melungtse or Jobo Garu in Tibetan has the elevation of 7,181m(23,555ft) is the highest mountain of the Rolwaling Himal in the Himalaya.
The peak has a long summit ridge capped by the east (main) summit and the west summit, also known as Melungtse II, 7,023m. The mountain's steep faces make it more difficult than its elevation would suggest.
Melungtse lies just north of the Tibet and Nepal border, on a western spur ridge coming out of the main north-south trending ridge of the Rolwaling Himal, in Tingri county, Shigatse Prefecture of Tibet. To the southwest, across the Menlung Chu, lies Gauri Shankar, which, though a bit lower (7134 m), is much more visible from Nepal, hence better-known. Melungtse lies about 40 km west of Mount Everest.

Namcha Barwa
Namcha Barwa at the elevation of 7782m, is a mountain in Tibetan Himalaya which forms the eastern anchor of the Himalayan chain, and is the easternmost mountain in the world over 7600m.Namcha Barwa is located in the Nyingchi perfecture(ཉིང་ཁྲི་ས་ཁུལ་) of the Tibet. It sits inside the “Great Bend” of the Tsangpo River, the main river of southeastern Tibet. This is a very obscure region, rarely visited by outsiders. Its sister peak Gyala Peri (also over 7000m) lies across the Tsangpo to the north.

North Col
The North Col refers to the pass or col connecting Mount Everest and Changste in Tibet has the elevation of 7,020m. Also known as Chang La (Tibetan for “north pass”).
When climbers attempt to climb Everest via the North ridge (Tibet), the first camp on the mountain itself (traditional Camp IV, modern Camp I) is established on the North Col.

Mount Nyanchenthanglha
Nyanchenthanglha is a mountain range that divides Tibet, the watershed between the Yarlung Tsangbo (Brahmaputra) and the Nu (Salween) rivers.
The range's highest peak, Nyainqêntanglha Feng, stands at 7,162 metres in Damshung Dzong. The mountain range has more than thirty peaks over 6,000 metres high, and four are more than 7,000 metres high. The nearest town is Yangpachen North of the Mountain is the holy lake Namtso(Tengrinor). Nyanchenthanglha is the subject of many Tibetan fairytales and old folklore.

Salasungo
Salasungo, otherwise known as Ganesh III or Ganesh SE, is a peak in the Ganesh Himal on the border between Nepal and Tibet. The name “Salasungo” is also often used to refer to another peak in the Himal, Ganesh NW.

Shishapangma
Shishapangma is the fourteenth highest mountain in the world and the lowest of the eight-thousanders. It was the last 8,000 metre peak to be climbed, due to its location entirely within Tibet and the restrictions on outside visitation to the region imposed by the Chinese during the 1950s and later.
The Tibetan name shi sha sbang ma means “crest above the grassy plains”. In Sanskrit, the mountain is called Gosainthan, which means “place of the saint”.
Shishapangma is located in south-central Tibet at 8,013 m( 26,289 fT) few kilometers far from the border with Nepal. It is the only eight-thousander entirely within Tibetan territory ,restricted by Chinese. It is the highest peak in the Jugal Himal, which is contiguous with, and often considered a part of, the Langtang Himal. The combined Jugal/Langtang Himal straddles the Tibet/Nepal border. Since it is on the dry north side of the Himalayan crest, and further away from the lower terrain of Nepal, it has somewhat less dramatic vertical relief than most other major himalayan peaks.

Yangra
Yangra (Ganesh I) is the highest peak of the Ganesh Himal, which is a subrange of the Himalayan Mountain Range. It has the elevation of 7,422m(24,350ft) though not an 8,000metre peak and little visited, it enjoys great vertical relief over the nearby valleys.
Yangra, and the entire Ganesh Himal, lie between the Budhi Gandaki and Trisuli Gandaki valleys, northwest of Katmandu. Yangra lies on the border between Nepal and Tibet, and is east-southeast of Manaslu, the nearest 8,000 metre peak.

Back to top