Location and Physical Features
- Situated in the Garhwal Himalayas in the state of Uttarakhand, India.
- Elevation: 7,816 metres (25,643 feet), making it the second-highest peak entirely within India after Kangchenjunga (which lies on the India–Nepal border).
- Comprises two main peaks:
- Nanda Devi (Main)
- Nanda Devi East
The mountain forms the core of a natural ring of high peaks known as the Nanda Devi Sanctuary, a remote and high-altitude glacial basin surrounded by steep ridges.
Geographical Significance
- Source region for several Himalayan glaciers and tributaries feeding the Ganga river system.
- The surrounding basin is one of the most geographically protected natural enclosures in the Himalayas.
- The Rishi Ganga gorge provides one of the only access routes into the inner sanctuary.
Ecological Importance
- Central to the Nanda Devi National Park
- The park, along with the Valley of Flowers, is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Characterized by alpine meadows, glaciers, and rare Himalayan flora and fauna.
- Habitat for endangered species such as the snow leopard, Himalayan musk deer, and Himalayan tahr.
Due to ecological sensitivity, the inner sanctuary was closed to regular mountaineering activity in the 1980s to protect fragile ecosystems.
Cultural and Religious Significance
- Revered as a manifestation of the goddess Nanda Devi in local Hindu traditions.
- Associated with the Nanda Devi Raj Jat Yatra, a major pilgrimage conducted approximately every 12 years.
- Considered a sacred and protective deity in the Kumaon and Garhwal regions.
Mountaineering History
- First successfully climbed in 1936 by a British-American expedition led by Bill Tilman and Noel Odell.
- At the time of ascent, it was the highest mountain ever climbed.
- Subsequent expeditions highlighted the extreme technical challenges posed by its terrain and isolation.
Nanda Devi is significant not only as a major Himalayan peak but also as a site of ecological conservation, cultural reverence, and geopolitical history.
