Mount Kangchenjunga

 

Kanchenjunga, the third highest peak in the world is situated in the state of Sikkim and rises to an impressive height of 8586m.It is located in the 850 sq.km of the Kanchenjunga National park bordering Nepal. On the lower slope there are a wet temperate forest which gradually rises to bare rock, ice and snow. The massif is bounded on the west by the Tamur River and in the east by the Teesta River. It has five peaks, four of them over 8450m. Two of the five peaks are in Nepal. The Kanchenjunga Himal section is bounded by Nepal and Sikkim. It is also limited by Lhomakchu, Gomachu, and Joungsang La rivers and in the east by the Teesta River. The western limit runs from Joungsang La down to Geingsang and the Kanchenjunga glacier and the river Chunsa and Tamur.

Four glaciers radiate from the peak, pointing roughly to the north-east, south-east, north-west and south-west. The Zemu glacier in the north-east and the Talung glacier in the south-east drain to the Teesta River thereby forming a part of the Brahmaputra catchment. The summit of Kangchenjunga is the highest point of the Brahmaputra basin. The Yalung glacier in the south-west and the Kangchenglacier in the north-west drain to the Arun and Kosi rivers thereby forming a part of the Ganges  catchment. The summit of Kangchenjunga, therefore, also forms a part of the Ganges basin.

This mountain is traditional worshipped by the people of Sikkim and Tibet. Kanchenjunga literally means” the five treasures of snow”. The Treasure represents the five repositories of God, namely gold, silver, gems, grain and the Holy Book.  In Tibetan the peak is known as Demoshang. The Pang Labsol festival of ritual and dance is dedicated to Khang- Chen, Dzong Nga. It is celebrated during the early part of the autumn season. Kanchenjunga is represented by a fiery and red faced deity and a crown of five skulls and a snow lion. The area around Kanchenjunga is reputed to be a home of the “yeti”, also known as the “Kanchenjunga demon”.

Source:

http://www.philippegatta.fr/kangchenjunga2.htm

 

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