Kangchenjunga, the treasure of the five peaks

At 8,586 meters, Kangchenjunga is the third highest peak in the world. Located on the border between Nepal and India, it is also a sacred place for local communities, who consider it the home of protective deities.

Altitude

8586 m

Localisation

27.703° N / 88.148° E

A giant imbued with spirituality

Its name means “the five treasures of the great snow,” referring to its five main summits. Long considered the highest peak in the world before Everest was precisely measured, it remains a giant surrounded by myths and respect.

1838

Initial measurement

Kangchenjunga was long considered the highest peak in the world.

1852

Everest confirmed

Geodetic calculations placed Everest first, relegating Kangchenjunga to third place.

1955

First ascent

Achieved by George Band and Joe Brown (British expedition), who intentionally stopped a few meters before the summit out of respect for local tradition.

1998

First female ascent

Achieved by British climber Ginette Harrison, marking an important milestone in the history of Himalayan mountaineering.

21st century

Modern routes

Kangchenjunga remains one of the most technical and dangerous of the 8000ers, with limited traffic.

27.7030° N / 88.1475° E

Nepal

8 586 m

Elevation

3ᵉ

Highest peak in the world

5

Main summits

1955

First ascent

Sacred summit

Buddhist Prayer flags against Annapurna range covered with snow, way to Ice lake, 4600 m above sea, Annapurna Circuit Trek, Himalayas, Nepal

Sacred summit

Climbers still respect the tradition of not stepping on the highest point, stopping a few meters short.

An Indo-Nepalese horizon

From Darjeeling, the silhouette of Kangchenjunga dominates the landscape.

Everest

Nepal

8848,86 m

Lhotse

Nepal

8516 m

Kangchenjunga embodies the meeting of physical grandeur and spiritual depth.

For Norton Peak, it symbolizes humility in the face of immensity and respect for traditions.

From India (Sikkim, north base camp)

More cultural approaches, marked by Buddhist monasteries.

From Nepal (south base camp)

Long and wild route, starting from Taplejung.

“On Kangchenjunga, every step is a prayer.”

Nepali proverb

8848,86 m

Everest

On the border of Nepal and Tibet, Everest dominates the planet at 8,848.86 meters. A symbol of adventure and human achievement, it has attracted dreamers and explorers for generations. More than a mountain, it is a living legend.

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8516 m

Lhotse

At 8,516 meters, Lhotse is the fourth-highest mountain in the world. Located just south of Everest, it shares part of its route before diverging into its own path to glory, dominated by a massive and feared south face.

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8611 m

K2

At 8,611 m, K2 is the second highest peak in the world after Everest. Located in the Karakoram range on the border between Pakistan and China, it is nicknamed the “Savage Mountain” due to its difficulty and the high mortality rate of its ascents.

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8167 m

Dhaulagiri

Dhaulagiri, the seventh highest peak in the world, is renowned for its majestic silhouette and steep slopes. Remote and imposing, it attracts climbers from around the world seeking to challenge one of the most technical mountains in the Himalayas.

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