Unclimbed peak in Arunachal Pradesh named after 6th Dalai Lama, Tsangyang Gyatso

Guwahati: A team from the National Institute of Mountaineering and Adventure Sports (NIMAS), has successfully scaled an unnamed and unclimbed 6383 MSL or 20,942 ft high peak in Gorichen range of Arunachal Pradesh Himalayas on Tawang-West Kameng region.

The peak was one of the most technically challenging and unexplored summits in the region. After overcoming immense challenges including sheer ice walls, treacherous crevasses, and a 2-kilometer-long glacier, the team has immortalized the momentous feat by naming the peak "Tsangyang Gyatso Peak" in honour of His Holiness the 6th Dalai Lama Rigzen Tsangyang Gyatso.

By naming this peak after him, NIMAS aims to pay tribute to his timeless wisdom and his profound contributions to the Monpa community and beyond. A total of 15 members led by Colonel Ranveer Singh Jamwal spent 15 days to track the peak is in Eastern Himalayas of Tawang Region.

An army spokesperson said that the expedition to conquer “Tsangyang Gyatso Peak” was one of the toughest ever undertaken by the NIMAS team. The route was fraught with dangerous crevasses, steep ice walls, and unpredictable weather conditions. However, through sheer determination and teamwork, the team was able to navigate these challenges and reach the summit, making history in the process.

NIMAS, which has been at the forefront of adventure and mountaineering in India, has informed the Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF) about the ascent and the decision to name the peak. The necessary formalities for naming the peak are being completed to ensure that "Tsangyang Gyatso Peak" is recognized on the official map.

This historic climb not only celebrates Arunachal Pradesh's rich cultural heritage but also positions the region as a key destination for mountaineering and adventure sports, attracting explorers and adventure enthusiasts from around the globe.

Tawang and West Kameng –– share borders with China with the former having fallen briefly under Chinese control in 1962. China has often claimed Arunachal as part of south Tibet.