Illustrated picture. Photo: Mixi
Illustrated picture. Photo: Mixi

India is blessed with different landforms and terrains. From the northernmost point to the tip of the southern peninsular, India encompasses the beauty of high-rise mountains, rivers, dessert, islands, valleys, and plateaus. The natural beauty of the country is one of the jewels which made many foreign kingdoms establish here. The most fascinating of all the landforms is the chain of the vast Himalayan mountain range bordering the northern curve of India running from north to east. This range is home to the highest mountain peaks in India. You can imagine its beauty by the line Mughal Emperor Jahangir wrote in his poem. On his first glimpse of Himalayas, “Gar firdaus bar-rue zamin ast, hami asto, hamin asto, hamin ast” (means, if there is a heaven on earth, it’s here, it’s here, it’s here). Here, we have listed the top 10 highest mountains in India to help you know interesting facts about it with its location, height, and ranking. Generally, a mountain range has multiple peak points so, we have also listed the peaks other than the highest peak points.

The List of 10 Highest Mountains in India

1. Kangchenjunga - 8586 m (28,169 ft)

2. Nanda Devi - 7816 m (25,643 ft)

3. Kamet - 7756 m (25,446 ft)

4. SaltoroKangri - 7742 m (25,400 ft)

5. Saser Kangri Peak - 7,672 m

6. Mamostong Kangri Peak - 7516 m

7. Rimo Peak - 7,385 m

8. Abi Gamin - 7355 m (24,131 ft)

9. Kirat Chuli - 7,365 m

10. Chaukhamba - 7,138 m

Which are the Highest Mountains in India?

1. Kangchenjunga - 8586 m (28,169 ft)

Photo: Wikipedia
Photo: Wikipedia

Located at the border of Nepal and India in the great Himalayas range in Sikkim, Mount Kanchenjunga is the highest peak in India and the third-highest in the world.

It is also spelled as Kangchenjunga or Khangchendzonga. At an elevation of 8,586 meters (28,169 ft), it is only 262 meters lower than Mount Everest.

Kangchenjunga means “the five treasures of the high snow” in Tibetan language referring to its five peaks, out of which four are over 8,450 meters.

It holds a lot of religious significance in Buddhism. No one has ever stood on the peak as it is considered sacred.

Climbers stop short of the summit to honour the promise made to Chogyal (Former rulers of the Kingdom of Sikkim) that the mountain peak should remain intact.

In 1955, Joe Brown and George Band, members of a British expedition climbed it first. This place is a treat for adventure seekers and trekkers. There are two routes available for trekkers, south and north base camp.

The south base camp at an elevation of 4,740 meters is the most preferred as it is less arduous compared to the north base camp at 5,140 meters. Both the base camps offer breathtaking views of the magnificent Kanchenjunga.

Kangchenjunga 8,586 m
Kangchenjunga West 8,505 m
Kangchenjunga Central 8,482 m
Kangchenjunga South 8,494 m
Kangbachen 7,903 m

2. Nanda Devi - 7816 m (25,643 ft)

Photo: Wikipedia
Photo: Wikipedia

Nanda Devi is the second highest peak in India at an elevation of 7,816 meters and lies in the Garhwal Himalayas region in Uttarakhand.

It was the highest known mountain in the world until 1808 when Dhaulagiri was discovered by western surveyors. Legend has it that the goddess Nanda, wife of Shiva, lived there.

In the vicinity of the Nanda Devi peak, lies Nanda Devi National Park, which is one of the high-altitude national parks in India.

It is blessed with remarkably rich alpine flora and fauna. The park was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in the year 1982.

Snow leopard, red fox and Himalayan musk deer are some of the most elusive wildlife of this park. Check this post if you are interested to know, where can you sight snow leopards in India.

The Garhwal region in the Himalayan foothills is one of the most popular destinations for trekkers and offers an exciting choice for an adventure holiday.

3. Kamet - 7756 m (25,446 ft)

Photo: See You in the Mountains
Photo: See You in the Mountains

Situated at an elevation of 7,756 meters (25,446 ft), Kamet is the second highest mountain summit of Garhwal Himalayas after Nanda Devi.

It is surrounded by three main subsidiary peaks, namely Mukut Parbat (7,242 meters), Abi Gamin (7,355 meters) and Mana (7,272 meters). It is situated in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand.

It is amongst the top 3 highest peaks in India and lies very close to the border of Tibet. Relatively remote, the Kamet peak is not as accessible as some other Himalayan peaks owing to its position near the Tibetan Plateau.

The first successful ascent of the peak was made by a British expedition team in 1931.

4. SaltoroKangri - 7742 m (25,400 ft)

Photo: Pinterest
Photo: Pinterest

Mountain expedition in this range is a bit difficult task owing to the political condition of the area. This lofty peak is an integral part of the Karakoram Range that is steeped in charisma. The valleys and rivers meandering through the peak offer an awesome panoramic view that will take your breath away.

Apart from Saltoro Kangri, you can also opt for Mount Nun Expedition (7135M)which is yet another great trekker’s heaven located in the Zanskar valley. It is a part of the snow-clad twin Nun-Kun peak that looks mesmerizing. The natural beauty of the place cannot be expressed in words; you need to feel the solace here that will stay with you forever.

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5. Saser Kangri Peak - 7,672 m

Photo: saserkangri.in
Photo: saserkangri.in

Saser Kangri is one of India’s highest mountain peaks lying in the mountain range of Saser Muztagh. This is a sub-range of the southern part of the Karakoram range.

The mountain peak is located in Ladakh. Saser Kangri is more populated than the above-listed mountains, and thus, it is easy to access. It is ranked 35th in the list of highest mountain peaks in India. If you are planning of visiting offbeat hill stations, you can consider this tough adventurous terrain.

6. Mamostong Kangri Peak - 7516 m

Photo: Alchetron
Photo: Alchetron

Mamostong Kangri is located in the remote area of the Siachen Glacier at a great altitude of 7,516 meters (24,659 ft).

It is the highest peak in Rimo Muztagh, which is a subrange of the Karakoram range in Ladakh, close to the Sino-Indian border.

Check this post, if you are interested to know more about the best tourist places in Ladakh.

Mamostong massif comprises Mamostong Kangri I (7,516 meters) and Mamostong Kangri II (7,025 meters), along with a cluster of subsidiary peaks.

Due to its remote location, the Mamostong Kangri remains one of the least explored mountain peaks in India. An Indo-Japanese expedition led by Col. B.S. Sandhu made the first ascent of the peak in 1984.

7. Rimo Peak - 7,385 m

Photo: NCERT Books
Photo: NCERT Books

Rimo literally means ‘striped mountain’. It is located in the heart of the eastern Karakoram range. The Rimo mountain series consists of six peaks with Rimo I as the main summit at an altitude of 7,385 meters (24,229 ft).

Other peaks are Rimo II (7,373 meters), Rimo III (7,233 meters), Rimo IV (7,169 meters), Rimo V (6,882 meters) and Rimo VI (6,846 meters).

The first expedition to this peak was undertaken by an Italian mountaineer Filippo De Filippi in 1914. Subsequently, in 1929, it was explored by a Dutch explorer and mountaineer Philip Visser.

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8. Abi Gamin - 7355 m (24,131 ft)

Photo: HelloTravel
Photo: HelloTravel

Abi Gamin or Ibi Gamin is one of the highest peaks located in Chamoli district of the Indian state Uttrakhand . It lies on India-Tibet border just 2 km away from mount Kamet. It is also the secong highest peak of the region after Kamet. This peak is a part of Himalayan Range and is situated on the watershed of the upper Alaknanda and Dhauli.

9. Kirat Chuli - 7,365 m

Photo: SummitPost
Photo: SummitPost

Also known as Tent Peak, Kirat Chuli is one of India’s highest peaks lying on the border of India and Nepal. This lies in the range of Kangchenjunga.

It is one of the favored camp bases for expedition aspirants. However, the extreme cold weather and cold storm can result in deadly encounters during your expedition.

10. Chaukhamba - 7,138 m

Photo: SummitPost
Photo: SummitPost

This mountain massif is located in the Gangotri Group of the Garhwal Himalaya. It is one of the primary summits and one of the highest mountain peaks in India. It features four Summits, including northeast – southeast trending ridge.

Chaukhamba was named after the four peaks. Bikers and snowy mountains are a deadly combination, but nowadays, mountain biking is a trendy thing. You can look for mountain areas like this to go for short experience with proper precaution and permission.

Useful Travel Tips

You can go trekking to enjoy the enchanting views of high mountain peaks and the pristine surrounding beauty. It needs a certain level of training and practice before you start.

Mountain climbing is a thrilling experience but you should remember and follow some ground rules to make it a memorable experience.

|* Cover your head as it gives protection from weather conditions

|* Wear clothes made of synthetic fabrics which can absorb sweat

|* Carry food rich in carbohydrates, like nuts, bread.

|* Bring enough water to drink as you may not find a source of clean water

|* Get first aid kit, you never know when it can be of help

|* Don’t consume alcohol, it may cause dehydration

|* Walk at a steady pace, moving too fast can make you tired

|* Remove excessive clothing to protect your body from getting overheated

|* Avoid shouting or creating unnecessary noise as it may disturb the local wildlife

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