Almost the entire northeast of India is occupied by the vast mountain system of the Himalayas and Hindu Kush. There are many Buddhist monasteries and communities, many of which settled here more than one millennium ago. The Himalayas are the most famous Indian natural attraction, and the Chomolungma Peak, or Everest - the highest peak - claims to be one of the seven new wonders of the world. Not only climbers and other amateurs come here extreme rest, but also pilgrims - followers of Buddhism, Hinduism, esotericism.
The Himalayas are part of five countries at once. The mountain system is located on the territory of India, Pakistan, Nepal, China and Bhutan, and the Asian rivers Indus, Ganges and Brahmaputra, around which the world's most important cultures were created, are fed from the Himalayan glaciers.
Despite the abundance of mountain slopes, there are very few ski resorts in the Himalayas, and those that exist are not very developed. This is not so much due to the reluctance of Indians to invest in sports tourismhow much with the absence good places for riding. The most popular of the available are Gulmarg in the Indian part of Kashmir, Auli in Uttarakhand and Manali in Himachal Pradesh.
How to get to the Himalayas
The closest to the Indian Himalayas is the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi. First you need to fly here, and then domestic flights, by train or rented car, you have already reached your destination.
There is no railway network in the mountains, but you can get to the foot by train. The only one railway in the Himalayas, it is more entertainment than convenient transportation, the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway is called the "toy train" here. It departs from Siligiri Station and climbs up to Ghum, located at an altitude of 2,257 m, past tea plantations, valleys and other scenic landscapes.
The easiest way to get to the Gulmarg ski resort is by plane: the city of Shrinagore, the capital of Jammu and Kashmir, has its own airport. Auli resort is close to several airports, the closest in the city of Dehradun.
The main means of transportation between cities and towns in the Himalayas are shared jeep minibuses, they run between all settlements. Indians are used to taking up a minimum of space on the road, therefore, in order to travel with comfort, it makes sense to buy 1-2 extra seats.
Search for flights to Delhi (closest airport to the Himalayas)
Weather in Himalayas
The weather in the Himalayas depends on the height of the mountain ranges - the higher, the colder. At an altitude of 2000-2300 m above sea level in winter the air temperature ranges from −4 to +8 ° С, in summer - on average +18 ... + 24 ° С, sometimes it is hot, up to +23 ... + 30 ° С ...
The best time to travel is from May to July and September to October. At this time, the weather is dry, sunny, warm enough and comfortable for walking. In July and August it is also warm, but at this time rains and fogs, high clouds come here, so it is unlikely that you will be able to admire the mountain landscapes. In winter, it is cold and windy in the Himalayas, all roads are covered with snow, and travel becomes problematic.
Himalayas Hotels
In the Himalayas, there are hotels in different price categories. There is a large selection of hotels from 2 * to 5 * in Darjeeling and in popular ski resorts. A small house without amenities, with a fan instead of an air conditioner will cost from 1100 INR per day for two. "Treshka" will cost about 3500-4200 INR per day for a double room, and 5 * hotels - from 7000 INR per day. The prices on the page are for March 2019.
In the Himalayas, especially in its religious quarters, ashrams are popular. These are shelters for pilgrims, similar to very ascetic hostels. The conditions there are quite spartan, often a room for several people only has beds and one shower for all (if you're lucky, there will be a fan). Accommodation is very cheap, and sometimes you can live in the ashram for free for help with housework or a voluntary donation.
Skiing
There are several ski resorts in the Himalayas. By the level of service they cannot be compared with European ones, but the most important thing is that there is a minimum of services and gorgeous mountain landscapes here. There are equipment rental points almost everywhere, a full set will cost about INR 1400-1750 per day.
The most popular ski resort in the Himalayas - Gulmarg... It meets European standards more than anyone else, and looks like a Swiss village of the middle of the last century. There are equipment rental points, several lifts, about 15 km of trails and an excellent forest freeride.
Auli is another popular Himalayan ski resort. Local trails are considered the best in the region (only about 10 km). There are snow cannons, ski schools for beginners and gentle slopes for them. The resort as a whole is more focused on beginner athletes, it will be rather boring for experienced ones.
Solang - ski resort 22 km from the city of Manali. There are trails for both beginners and extreme lovers (one "black trail"), tourists note the high professionalism of the instructors.
Narkanda - highly picturesque resort surrounded by a coniferous forest, located near Shimla, the only drawback is very little space.
Kufri is the oldest ski resort in India. In winter there is a center for alpine skiing, in summer - trekking and hiking, as there are two national parks not far from Kufri: the Himalayan Nature Park and Tourist park Indira.
Himalayan cuisine and restaurants
Tibetan cuisine is widespread in the Himalayas. It is much less spicy than in southern India and has more meat, although vegetarian options are also present. The most popular dishes that can be found in almost every cafe and restaurant are chouman (pasta with vegetables and meat), momo (steamed dumplings with various meat and vegetable fillings) and tuhpa (lamb broth soup with pasta, vegetables and meat). Here a lot is cooked in tandoor - an earthen oven without a lid. Basically, this is a simple peasant food: meat or poultry is fried on a spit, and then baked in tandoor in special bread cakes, with which the tandoor is covered from the inside.
The season is important. In the Himalayas, this seasonality is special and is associated with religion and other ancient traditions. In the rainy season, you cannot find dishes with nuts here, after a hearty meal you need to eat mangoes, and in summer they do not eat meat and fish here. However, the latter is easy to explain: refrigerators are still not in every home, and meat spoils very quickly in the heat.
In the Himalayas, the cult of wholesome food. For example, it is believed that mango soup not only improves blood circulation, but also increases sexual desire, halva is almost a blessing of the gods, and a drink made from rhodo flowers (Himalayan rhododendrons) brings harmony to the body and soul.
Guides in the Himalayas
The best photos of the Himalayas
Entertainment and attractions
In the Himalayas, primarily ancient temples and natural attractions are of interest. The most famous are Ladakh, the city of the ashrams of Rishikesh and Haridwar, one of the seven sacred cities. High-mountain temples of Shiva and Vishnu in Kedarnath and Badrinath, the Kashmirov valley and, of course, Shambhala with Tibetan monasteries are worth noticing.
Also popular are excursions to the Golden Temple in Amritsar, surrounded by the "reservoir of immortality", trips to the state of Sikkim to the foot of the sacred Annapurna and to other Buddhist shrines.
Acquaintance with the Himalayas often begins with the capital of the state of Himchal Pradesh - the town Shimla... It is called "the most fashionable village in the Himalayas": it is worth visiting the palace of the Viceroy of Britain (today there is a museum), central square with the Cathedral of Christ and the main shopping street, where you can buy scarves and shawls made of fine wool, saris and other national clothes and sequins to decorate the forehead.
One of the most mysterious places in the Himalayas - Srinagar... All his secrets are connected with the tomb of Rosbal - according to historical research (mostly doubtful), there lies the body of Jesus, and many locals sincerely believe in it. In addition, the city is known for doiks - boats on Lake Dal, the proximity ski resort Gulmarg and very high quality woolen products in local shops and markets.
The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway is one of the most interesting attractions in the Himalayas. It is better known here as the Toy Train. The road was built in 1881, and since then a small train has been running along a narrow 60-centimeter track to an altitude of 2000 m above sea level. The final station is Gkhum (height 2257 m), the path runs past tea plantations and other local beauties. From the railway ring of the terminal station, a gorgeous view of the surroundings opens.
The road to the Himalayas
Natural attractions
The Himalayas are very interesting national parks - Nanda Devi and the Valley of Flowers in the Western Himalayas, which are protected by UNESCO. These two parks are located side by side and are considered one of the most picturesque in the Himalayas. The landscapes here are truly impressive: glaciers on mountain peaks, alpine meadows, the source of the Ganges River, which flows through the entire Nanda Devi reserve, and a variety of vegetation and animal world... It is home to rare animals such as the snow leopard and blue sheep.
The most famous attraction of the national park is Rooklund Lake, also known as the Skeleton Lake. It got its ominous name after many human skeletons were found at the bottom of the lake. It is believed that these people were killed by hail while climbing to the top.
Himalayas and Roerich
The Himalayas have inspired and continue to inspire artists, filmmakers, musicians and simply creative people. The great Russian artist and mystic Nicholas Roerich on his expedition in the 30s of the 20th century. not only visited indian Himalayas and depicted what he saw in pictures, but even founded the Institute Himalayan studies in America. Moreover, last years the artist's life was spent in the Kullu Valley in the state of Himachal Pradesh. Now there, in Nagar (a suburb of the city of Manali) there is a house-museum of the painter. The atmosphere in which the Roerich family lived for 20 years has been preserved there, personal car Nikolai Konstantinovich and some of his paintings.
The Kullu Valley is famous not only for Roerich's estate. This region is called Indian Switzerland: coniferous forests grow here, and the Tibetan Medicine Center is located in Manali, where you can get diagnostics from the best local doctors and improve your health.
Himalayas - This is the highest mountain system of our planet, which stretches in Central and South Asia and is located on the territory of countries such as China, India, Bhutan, Pakistan and Nepal. There are 109 peaks in this mountain range, their height on average reaches more than 7 thousand meters above sea level. However, one of them beats them all. So, we will talk about the highest peak of the Himalayan mountain system.
What is it, the highest peak of the Himalayas?
The highest peak of the Himalayas is Mount Chomolungma, or Everest. It rises in the northern part of the Mahalangur-Himal ridge, the highest mountain range on our planet, which can only be reached after arriving in. Its height reaches 8848 m.
Chomolungma - this is the name of the mountain in Tibetan, which means "Divine mother of the Earth." In Nepali, the summit sounds like Sagarmatha, which translates as "Mother of the Gods". It was named Everest after George Everest, a British exploratory scientist who led the geodetic survey in the surrounding areas.
The form of the highest peak of the Himalayas, Chomolungma, is a triangular pyramid, with a steeper southern slope. As a result, that part of the mountain is practically not covered with snow.
Conquest of the highest peak of the Himalayas
The inaccessible Chomolungma has long attracted the attention of Earth climbers. However, unfortunately, due to unfavorable conditions, the mortality rate is still high here - there were more than 200 official reports of deaths on the mountain. At the same time, almost 3,000 people successfully climbed and descended Everest. The first ascent to the summit took place in 1953 by Nepalese Tenzing Norgay and New Zealander Edmund Hillary using oxygen devices.
Geographical names of the world: Toponymic dictionary. - M: AST... Pospelov E.M. 2001.
HIMALAYAS
the highest mountain system in the world, in Asia between the Tibetan plateau and the Indo-Gangetic lowland. Highest point Chomolungma (Everest) - 8848 m. Alpine folding. South. the foothills are composed of sandstone, the bedrock slopes and the axial zone - gneisses, granites and other igneous rocks. Glaciers consist of three stages: the highest, the Bolshoi G., characterized by ridges of the alpine type, high-altitude contrasts, and glaciation (over 33,000 km2). North. the slopes facing the high Tibetan plateau have a lower relative height. G. are under the influence of the summer monsoon, in the east. part of it falls up to 4000 mm of precipitation per year. The altitudinal zonation is well expressed: from the swampy jungle at the foot to evergreen tropical forests, deciduous and coniferous forests, shrubs, meadows. Sowing. the slope is drier, so mountain steppes, semi-deserts and cold deserts dominate there. Above 5000 m - eternal snow. Mountaineering is developed in Nepal.
Concise Geographical Dictionary... EdwART. 2008.
Himalayas
(Himalayas, from the Nepalese himal - "snow mountain"), the highest mountain system in the world, in Asia, between Tibetan plateau
to S. and Indo-Gangetic Plain
in the south (China, Pakistan, India, Nepal and Bhutan). Stretched out in a huge arc of approx. 2500 km, width up to 350 km. Wednesday height of ridges approx. 6000 m, the highest point - g. Chomolungma
(8848 m), 11 peaks rise above 8000 m. G. consist of several parallel mountain ranges with a steep south. and relatively gentle sowing. slopes. North. the border is the wide valleys of the upper reaches of the Indus and Brahmaputra rivers.
G. formed during the Alpine era of mountain building. South the foothills are predominantly composed. sandstones and conglomerates, bedrock slopes and axial zone - gneisses, shale, granite and other crystalline rocks. The G. rise over the Indo-Gangetic plain in three steps. The bottom is formed by mountains Sivalik
(Pre-Himalayas), middle - Small Himalayas
(chr. Pir Panjal
, Jaoladhar, etc.). The highest mountain range is partially separated from them by longitudinal valleys (Kashmir, Kathmandu, etc.) Greater Himalayas
, which from west to east are subdivided into the Punjab, Kumaon, Nepalese, Sikkim, and Assam. The Big Geographies are characterized by sharp alpine relief features and an extensive modern period. glaciation of the total area. 33200 km². The largest glacier - Gangotri
(32 km; approx. 300 km²) in Kumaon G.
G. are a pronounced climatic division: to the south of them a humid subequatorial climate prevails, to the north the climate of cold high-mountain deserts prevails. The altitudinal zonality is well expressed. In the south. swampy jungles (terai) are widespread in the foothills, alternating with evergreen forests (palms, laurels, tree ferns, bamboo entwined with lianas) as they rise. Above 1200 m in the west and 1500 m in the east, evergreen (oak and magnolia) forests dominate; above 2200 m, deciduous (alder, hazel, birch, maple) and coniferous (Himalayan cedar, blue pine, and silver spruce) forests dominate; up to 3600 m there are coniferous forests (fir, larch, juniper) with dense undergrowth of rhododendron. Top. the border of alpine meadows reaches 5000 m and only here it is replaced by the nival-glacial belt. Dry sowing the slopes are covered with mountain steppes, semi-deserts and cold deserts. Among the animals live Himalayan bears, wild goats, wild rams, yaks; many rodents. Slopes are cultivated up to an altitude of 2500 m, terraced farming is typical (tea bush, citrus fruits, on irrigated lands - rice). Mountaineering is widely developed and well organized in Georgia, especially in Nepal.
Dictionary of modern geographical names... - Yekaterinburg: U-Factoria. Under the general editorship of Acad. V. M. Kotlyakova. 2006 .
Himalayas
the highest mountain system of the globe, in Asia, between the Tibetan plateau in the north and the Indo-Gangetic plain in the south; in China, Pakistan, India, Nepal and Bhutan. The name comes from the Nepalese "himal" - "snow mountain". Form a huge arc long. OK. 2500 km, lat. up to 350 km. Wed h. ridges approx. 6000 m, the highest point - g. Chomolungma (8848 m), 11 peaks rise above 8000 m. The Himalayas consist of several parallel mountain ranges with a steep south. and relatively gentle sowing. slopes. North. the boundary is a giant longitudinal depression occupied by the upper reaches of the pp. Ganges and Brahmaputra flowing in opposite directions.
The Himalayas were formed during the Alpine era of mountain building. South the foothills are composed mainly of sandstones and conglomerates, the bedrock slopes and the axial zone are composed of gneisses, crystalline schists, granites, and other crystalline and metamorphic rocks. The mountain system rises above the Indo-Gangetic plain in three steps, forming mountains Sivalik (Pre-Himalayas), Small Himalayas(ridge Pir-Panjal, Jaoladhar, etc.) and partially separated from them by longitudinal valleys (Kashmir valley, Kathmandu, etc.) Greater Himalayas, which strike from west to east are subdivided into Punjab, Kumaon, Nepalese, Sikkim, and Assam. The Great Himalayas are characterized by sharp alpine relief forms, extensive modern glaciation of the total area. 33,200 km². The largest glacier is the Gangotri (approx. 300 km²) in the Kumaon Himalayas.
The altitudinal zonality is well expressed. In the south. swampy jungles (terai) are widespread in the foothills, alternating with evergreen tropical forests (palms, laurels, tree ferns, bamboo, and all this is intertwined with vines) as it rises. Above 1200 m in the west and 1500 m in the east, evergreen forests of oak and magnolias dominate; above 2200 m, deciduous (alder, hazel, birch, and maple trees) and coniferous (Himalayan cedar, blue pine, and silver spruce) forests; at the height. 2700–3600 m are dominated by coniferous forests of fir, larch, juniper with dense undergrowth of rhododendron. The upper border of the alpine meadows reaches the height. 5000 m and only here it is replaced by the nival-glacial belt. The northern, drier slopes, where the influence of the monsoon is weakening, is dominated by mountainous steppes, semi-deserts and cold deserts. Among the animals live the Himalayan bear, wild goats, wild rams, yak; many rodents. Up to high 2500 m slopes are cultivated, terraced farming is typical (tea bush, citrus fruits, on irrigated lands - rice). In the Himalayas, especially in Nepal, mountaineering is widely developed and well organized.
Geography. A modern illustrated encyclopedia. - M .: Rosman. Edited by prof. A.P. Gorkina. 2006 .
Synonyms:
See what "HIMALAYA" is in other dictionaries:
Himalayas - Himalayas. View from space Himalayas abode of snows, Hindi. Contents 1 Geography 2 Geology 3 Climate 4 Literature 5 Links Geography of the Himalayas ... Tourist encyclopedia
The highest mountain system in the world, between the Tibetan Plateau (in the north) and the Indo Gangetic Plain (in the south). The length of St. 2,400 km, width up to 350 km. Among the high ridges approx. 6000 m, the maximum height is up to 8848 m, Chomolungma (Everest) is the highest ... ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary
Sush., Number of synonyms: 2 mountain system (62) mountains (52) ASIS synonym dictionary. V.N. Trishin. 2013 ... Synonym dictionary
Himalayas - HIMALAYA, mountains in the Center. Asia, the greatest on the earth. Zap. their extremity is, ascent 36 ° n. wide, together with the Hindu Kush, Kara Korum and Kuen Lunem, the greatest horn on earth. node (see the map of the station of British India). Hence G. ... ... Military encyclopedia
This term has other meanings, see Himalayas (meanings). Himalayas ... Wikipedia
Himalayas - Snowy peaks of the Himalayas. HIMALAYA, the highest mountain system in the world, in Asia (India, Nepal, China, Pakistan, Bhutan), between the Tibetan plateau (in the north) and the Indo-Gangetic plain (in the south). Length over 2,400 km. Height up to 8848 m (mountain ... ... Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary
The Himalayas are considered to be the highest and most mysterious mountains of the planet Earth. The name of this array can be translated from Sanskrit as "land of snow". The Himalayas serve as a conditional separator between South and Central Asia. Hindus consider their location as sacred land. Numerous legends claim that the peaks of the Himalayan mountains were the dwelling place of the god Shiva, his wife Devi and their daughter Himavata. According to ancient beliefs, the abode of the gods gave rise to three great Asian rivers - the Indu, Ganges, Brahmaputra.
The origin of the Himalayas
It took several stages for the origin and development of the Himalayan mountains, which took a total of about 50,000,000 years. Many researchers believe that the beginning of the Himalayas was given by two colliding tectonic plates. 
It is interesting that at present the mountain system continues its development, the formation of folding. The Indian plate is moving northeastward at a speed of 5 cm per year, while contracting by 4 mm. Scholars argue that such a move will lead to further rapprochement between India and Tibet. 
The speed of this process is comparable to the growth of human nails. In addition, intense geological activity in the form of earthquakes is periodically observed in the mountains.
An impressive fact - the Himalayas occupy a large part of the entire surface of the Earth (0.4%). This area is incomparably large in comparison with other mountain objects. 
On which continent are the Himalayas: geographical information
Tourists preparing for a trip should find out where the Himalayas are. Their location is the continent of Eurasia (its Asian part). In the north, the neighboring massif is the Tibetan Plateau. In a southern direction, this role went to the Indo-Gangetic Plain. 
The Himalayan mountain system stretches for 2,500 km, and its width is at least 350 km. The total area of \u200b\u200bthe array is 650,000 m2.
Many Himalayan ridges boast heights of up to 6 km. The highest point is presented, also called Chomolungma. Its absolute height is 8848 m, which is a record among other mountain peaks on the planet. Geographical coordinates - 27 ° 59'17 "north latitude, 86 ° 55'31" east longitude. 
The Himalayas are spread over several countries. Not only the Chinese and Hindus, but also the peoples of Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal and Pakistan can be proud of the proximity to the majestic mountains. Sections of this mountain range are present in the territories of some post-Soviet countries: Tajikistan includes the northern mountain range (Pamir). 
Characteristics of natural conditions
The natural conditions of the Himalayan mountains cannot be called soft and stable. The weather in this area is prone to frequent changes. Many areas have hazardous terrain and cold at high altitudes. Even in summer, frost remains down to -25 ° C, and in winter it increases to -40 ° C. Hurricane winds are not uncommon in the mountains, the gusts of which reach 150 km / h. In summer and spring, the average air temperature rises to +30 ° С. 
In the Himalayas, it is customary to distinguish 4 climates. From April to June, the mountains are covered with wild herbs and flowers, and the air is cool and fresh. From July to August, rains dominate in the mountains, the largest amount of precipitation falls. During these summer months, the slopes of the mountain ranges are covered with lush vegetation, fog often appears. Warm and comfortable weather conditions remain until the arrival of November, after which a sunny frosty winter with heavy snowfalls sets in. 
Description of the plant world
The Himalayan vegetation surprises with its diversity. On the southern slope subject to frequent precipitation, altitude zones, and at the foot of the mountains there are real jungles (terai). Large thickets of trees and bushes are found in abundance in these places. In some places, dense vines, bamboo, numerous bananas, low-growing palms are found. Sometimes it is possible to get to the areas intended for the cultivation of certain crops. These places are usually cleared and drained by humans. 
Climbing a little higher along the slopes, you can alternately take refuge in tropical, coniferous, mixed forests, behind which, in turn, are picturesque alpine meadows. In the north mountain range and in drier areas the territory is represented by steppe and semi-deserts. 
In the Himalayas, there are trees that give people expensive wood and resin. Here you can get to the places where dhaka, fat trees grow. Tundra vegetation in the form of rhododendrons and mosses is found in abundance at an altitude of 4 km. 
Local fauna
The Himalayan mountains have become a safe haven for many endangered animals. Here you can meet rare representatives of the local fauna - the snow leopard, black bear, and Tibetan fox. In the southern region mountain range there are all the necessary conditions for the residence of leopards, tigers and rhinos. The representatives of the northern Himalayas include yaks, antelopes, mountain goats, wild horses. 
In addition to the richest flora and fauna, the Himalayas abound in a variety of minerals. In these places, loose gold, copper and chrome ore, oil, rock salt, brown coal are actively mined. 
Parks and valleys
In the Himalayas, you can visit parks and valleys, many of which are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites:
- Sagarmatha.
- Flower Valley.
Sagarmatha National Park belongs to the territory of Nepal. The highest peak in the world, Mount Everest and other high mountains, are considered its special treasures. 
Nanda Devi Park is a natural treasure of India, located in the heart of the Himalayan mountains. This picturesque place stretches at the foot of the hill of the same name, and has an area of \u200b\u200bover 60,000 hectares. The height of the park above sea level is not less than 3500 m. 
The most picturesque places of Nanda Devi are represented by grandiose glaciers, the Rishi Ganga River, the mystical Skeleton Lake, around which, according to legend, numerous human and animal remains were discovered. It is generally accepted that the sudden fall of an unusually large hail led to mass deaths. 
The Flower Valley is located not far from Nanda Devi Park. Here, on an area of \u200b\u200babout 9000 hectares, several hundred colorful plants grow. More than 30 species of flora that adorn the Indian valley are considered endangered, and about 50 species are used for medicinal purposes. A variety of birds also live in these places. Most of them can be seen in the Red Book. 
Buddhist temples
The Himalayas are famous for their Buddhist monasteries, many of which are located in remote places, and are buildings carved out of the rock. Most of the temples have a long history of existence, up to 1000 years old, and lead a rather "closed" lifestyle. Some of the monasteries are open to everyone who wants to get acquainted with the way of life of monks, the interior decoration of holy places. In them you can make beautiful photos... The entrance to the territory of other shrines for visitors is strictly prohibited.
The largest and most revered monasteries include:
- Drepunglocated in China.
- Temple complexes of Nepal - Bodnath, Budanilkantha, Swayambhunath.
- Jokhang, which is the pride of Tibet.
A carefully guarded religious shrine ubiquitous in the Himalayas is the Buddhist stupa. These religious monuments were erected by monks of the past in honor of any important event in Buddhism, as well as for the sake of prosperity and harmony throughout the world. 
Tourists visiting the Himalayas
The most suitable time to travel to the Himalayas is the period from May to July and September-October. During these months, vacationers can count on sunny and warm weather, lack of heavy rainfall and strong winds. For fans of adrenaline sports, there are few, but modern ski resorts. 
In the Himalayan mountains, you can find hotels and hotels of various price categories. In religious quarters there are special houses for pilgrims and devotees of the local religion - ashrams, which have ascetic living conditions. Accommodation in such premises is quite cheap, and sometimes it can be completely free. Instead of a fixed amount, the guest may offer a voluntary donation or help with the household.
The Himalayas abound with a huge number of rocky, almost vertical slopes on which it is very difficult to climb, you have to use all sorts of technical devices in the form of hammered hooks, ropes, special ladders and other climbing equipment. Often rocky ledges alternate with deep cracks, and so much snow settles on the slopes of the mountains that it compresses over time and turns into glaciers that close these cracks, which makes passage through these places deadly. It is not uncommon for snow and ice to come down, which, rushing down, turn into huge avalanches, sweeping away everything in their path and capable of crushing climbers in seconds.
The air temperature in the Himalayas, when rising to altitude, decreases by about 6 degrees for every 1000 meters. So if at the foot of the summer the temperature is +25, then at an altitude of 5000 meters it will be about -5.
At altitudes, the movements of air masses are usually intensified, often turning into a hurricane wind, which makes movement very difficult, and sometimes makes it impossible, especially on narrow ridges of mountain ranges.
Starting at 5000 meters, the atmosphere contains approximately half of the oxygen at sea level to which the human body is accustomed. Lack of oxygen has a detrimental effect on the human body, sharply reduces it physical capabilities and leads to the development of the so-called altitude sickness - shortness of breath, dizziness, chills and interruptions in the work of the heart. Therefore, usually at this altitude, the human body needs time to acclimatize.
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At an altitude of 6,000 meters, the atmosphere is so rarefied and poor in oxygen that full acclimatization is no longer possible. Regardless of what kind of physical stress a person experiences, he begins to slowly choke. An ascent to a height of 7000 meters is already mortally dangerous for many, at such a height consciousness begins to get confused and it becomes difficult even to think. The height of 8000 meters is called the "death zone". Here, even the strongest climbers can survive for only a few days at best. Therefore, all high-altitude ascents are carried out using breathing oxygen apparatus.
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But the representatives of the Nepalese Sherpa tribe, permanently living in the Himalayas, feel quite comfortable at the height, and therefore, as soon as the Europeans began to "master" mountain peaks Himalayas, the men of this tribe began to work on expeditions as guides and porters, receiving payment for this. Over time, this became their main profession. By the way, Sherpa Tenzing Norgay, paired with Edmund Hillary, were the first to climb the summit of the Himalayas - Everest, the highest mountain in the world.
But all these sometimes deadly dangers did not stop mountaineering enthusiasts. It took more than one decade to conquer all these peaks. Here is a short chorology of climbing the highest mountains on our planet.
1950, June 3 - Annapurna
French climbers Maurice Herzog, Louis Lachenal climbed the peak of Annapurna, which is 8091 meters high. Anapurna is considered the seventh highest mountain in the world. Located in Nepal, in the Himalayas, east of the Gandaki River, which flows through the deepest gorge in the world. The gorge separates Annapurna and another eight-thousander Dhaulagiri.
Climbing Anapurna is considered one of the most difficult climbs in the world. Moreover, this is the only conquest of an eight-thousander that was accomplished the first time, and besides, without oxygen apparatuses. However, their feat was given high price... Since they were shod only in leather boots, Erzog froze all his toes and because of the onset of gangrene, the expedition doctor had to amputate them. For all the time, only 191 people have successfully climbed Annapurna, this is less than any other eight-thousanders. Climbing Annapurna is considered the most dangerous, with a mortality rate of 32 percent, like no other eight-thousander.
1953, May 29 - Everest "Chomolungma"
The members of the English expedition, the New Zealander Edmund Hillary and the Nepalese Norgay Tenzing, were the first to conquer Everest - a summit with a height of 8848 m. Nepalese her name is "Sagarmatha", that is, "Mother of the universe." It is the tallest mountain in the world. on the border of Nepal and China.
Everest is a triangular pyramid with three sides and ridges that stretch to the northeast, southeast and northwest. The southeastern ridge is gentler and is the most widely used climbing route. It was this route to the summit through the Khumbu Glacier, the Valley of Silence, from the foot of Lhotse through the South Col, Hillary and Tenzing blazed their first ascent. And for the first time the British tried to climb Everest back in 1921. They then could not go from the southern side, because of the ban of the Nepalese authorities and tried to rise from the north, from the side of Tibet. To do this, they had to go around the entire Chomolungma mountain range, having covered more than 400 kilometers to get to the top from China. But the time for the detour was lost and the monsoons that began did not make it possible to make the ascent. After them, a second attempt on the same route was made in 1924 by British climbers George Lee Mallory and Andrew Irwin, which was also unsuccessful, ending with the death of both at an altitude of 8500 meters.
Despite its reputation as an extremely dangerous mountain, commercialized climbing Everest has made it a very popular tourist attraction over the past few decades. According to the latest data, 5656 successful ascents were made to Everest, at the same time 223 people died. The mortality rate was about 4 percent.
1953, July 3 - Nangaparbat
The peak is located in the north of Pakistan in the western part of the Himalayas. It is the ninth highest eight-thousander, 8126 meters. This peak has such steep slopes that even snow does not hold on top of it. In Urdu, Nangaparbat means "Naked Mountain". The first to climb the peak was the Austrian climber Hermann Buhl, a member of the German-Austrian Himalayan expedition. He made the ascent alone, without oxygen apparatus. The ascent time to the summit was 17 hours, and with the descent 41 hours. It was the first successful ascent in 20 years of attempts, before that 31 climbers had already died there.
According to the latest data, a total of 335 successful ascents have been made to Nangaparbat. 68 climbers were killed. Mortality is about 20 percent, which makes it the third most dangerous 8000m.
1954, July 31 - Chogori, "K2", "Dapsang"
The first to climb K2, the second highest peak in the world, were Italian climbers Lino Lacedelli and Achille Compagnoni. Although attempts to conquer K2 began in 1902.
Chogori Peak or Dapsang Peak - 8611 meters high, is located on the Baltoro Muztag Ridge in the Karakorum mountain range, on the border of Pakistan and China. This mountain received the unusual name K2 in the 19th century, when a British expedition measured the heights of the peaks of the Himalayas and Karakorum. Each newly measured peak was given a serial number. K2 was the second mountain they stumbled upon and since then this name has stuck behind it for a long time. Locals call this Lamba Pahar, which means “ High mountain". Despite the fact that K2 is lower than Everest, it turned out to be more difficult to climb it. For all the time, there were only 306 successful ascents on K2. When trying to climb, 81 people died. The mortality rate is about 29 percent. K2 is often called a killer mountain
1954, October 19 - Cho-Oyu
The first to climb the peak were the members of the Austrian expedition: Herbert Tichy, Josef Jöhler and the Sherpa Pazang Dawa Lama. Cho-Oyu summit is located in the Himalayas, on the border of China and Nepal, in the Mahalangur-Himal mountain range, the Chomolungma mountain range, about 20 km west of Mount Everest.
Cho-Oyu, in Tibetan means "Goddess of Turquoise." It has a height of 8201 meters, it is the sixth highest eight-thousander. A few kilometers to the west of Cho Oyu is the Nangpa-La pass with a height of 5716 m. This pass is a passage from Nepal to Tibet, laid by the Sherpas as the only trade route. Because of this pass, many climbers consider Cho Oyu to be the simplest eight-thousander. This is partly true because all ascents are made from the side of Tibet. But from the side of Nepal, the southern wall is so difficult that only a few managed to conquer.
In total, 3,138 people safely climbed Cho Oyu, this is more than any other peak except Everest. Lethality is 1%, less than any other. It is considered the safest eight-thousander.
1955, May 15 - Makalu
For the first time, the Frenchmen Jean Cousi and Lionel Terre ascended the top of Makalu. The ascent to Makalu was the only one in the history of the conquest of the eight-thousanders, when all nine members of the expedition reached the summit, including the senior group of Sherpa guides. This happened not because Makalu is such an easy mountain, but because the weather was unusually good and nothing prevented the climbers from achieving this triumph.
Makalu is 8485 meters high, the fifth highest mountain in the world, located just 20 kilometers southeast of Everest. In Tibetan, Makalu means Big Black. Such unusual name It is given to this mountain because its slopes are very steep and the snow simply does not hold on to them, so it remains bare for most of the year.
It turned out to be difficult enough to defeat Makalu. In 1954, an American team led by Edmund Hillary, the first person to climb Everest, tried to do this, but they failed. And only the French, after a lot of preparatory work and well-coordinated teamwork, managed to do this. In total, 361 people have successfully climbed Makalu for all the time, while 31 people died while trying to climb. The mortality rate of Makalu ascents is about 9 percent.
1955, May 25 - Kanchenjunga
The first to successfully climb Kanchenjunga were British climbers George Band and Joe Brown. Before the ascent, the locals warned the climbers that a Sikkim god lives on the top of this mountain and should not be disturbed. They refused to accompany the expedition and the British went to the ascent on their own. But either because of superstition, or for some other reason, having climbed to the top, they did not reach the very top for several feet, considering that the top was conquered.
Kanchenjunga is located on the border of Nepal and India, about 120 kilometers south of Everest. The name "Kanchenjunga" in translation from Tibetan means "Treasury of the five great snows." Until 1852, Kanchenjunga was considered the most high mountain in the world. But after Everest and other eight-thousanders were measured, it turned out that it is the third highest peak in the world, its height is 8586 meters.
Another legend in Nepal says that Kanchenjunga is a mountain woman. And women cannot go to it on pain of death. Of course, climbers are not superstitious people, but nevertheless, only one female climber, an Englishwoman, Jeanette Harrison, has climbed to its top for all the time. No matter what, but a year and a half later, Jeanette Harrison died while climbing Dhaulagiri. For all the time, 283 climbers have successfully climbed Kanchenjunga. Of those who tried to climb, 40 people died. The ascent mortality is about 15 percent.
1956, May 9 - Manaslu
The mountain is 8163 meters high, the eighth highest eight-thousander. There were several attempts to climb this peak. For the first time in 1952, when, in addition to the British, the Swiss and French teams entered the championship of the conquest of Everest, the Japanese decided to conquer the Manaslu peak located in Nepal about 35 kilometers east of Annapurna. They scouted all the approaches and mapped out the route. The next year, 1953, they started climbing. But the ensuing blizzard broke all their plans and they were forced to retreat.
When they returned in 1954, the local Nepalese took up arms against them, referring to the fact that the Japanese defiled the gods and aroused their anger, because after the departure of the previous expedition, their village suffered misfortunes: there was an epidemic, crop failure, temples collapsed and three priests died. Armed with sticks and stones, they drove the Japanese away from the mountain. In 1955, a special delegation arrived from Japan to settle the matter with local residents. And only in the next 1956, having paid 7,000 rupees for damages and 4,000 rupees for the construction of a new temple and having arranged a big celebration for the population of the village, the Japanese received permission to climb. Thanks to the fine weather, Japanese climber Toshio Imanishi and sirdar sherpa Gyaltsen Norbu climbed the peak on May 9. Manaslu remains one of the most dangerous eight-thousanders. In total, there were 661 successful ascents of Manaslu, sixty-five climbers died during the ascent. Mortality of ascents is about 10 percent.
1956, May 18 - Lhotse
Fritz Luchsinger and Ernst Reiss, members of the Swiss team, became the first people to climb the 8,516 meter high Lhotse, the fourth highest peak in the world.
Lhotse Peak is located on the border of Nepal and China, a few kilometers away south of Everest... These two peaks are connected by a vertical ridge, the so-called South Col, the height of which is over 8000 meters along its entire length. Usually ascents are carried out along the western, more gentle slope. But in 1990, the Soviet Union team climbed the southern side, which was previously considered completely inaccessible, since it is a 3300-meter almost vertical wall. In total, 461 successful ascents were made on Lhotse. For all the time, 13 climbers have died there, the mortality rate is about 3 percent.
1956 July 8 - Gasherbrum II
The summit is 8034 meters high, the thirteenth highest mountain in the world. For the first time, Austrian climbers Fritz Moravec, Josef Larch and Hans Willenpart climbed Gasherbrum II. They ascended the summit along the south side along the southwestern ridge. Before climbing the peak itself, having risen to an altitude of 7,500 meters, they set up a temporary camp for the night, and then went on an assault early in the morning. It was a completely new, untested approach to rock climbing, which later began to be used by climbers from many countries.
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Gasherbrum II is the second of four peaks of Gasherbrum in the Karakorum on the Pakistan-China border, about 10 kilometers southeast of K2. The Baltoro Muztag ridge, which includes Gasherbrum II, is known for the longest glacier in the Karakorum, more than 62 kilometers long. This was the reason that many climbers descended almost from the very top of Gasherbrum II on skis, on snowboards and even with a parachute. Gasherbrum II is considered one of the safest and lightest eight-thousanders. 930 climbers successfully climbed Gasherbrum II and only 21 people died in unsuccessful attempts to climb. Mortality of ascents is about 2 percent.
1957 June 9 - Broad Peak
The mountain is 8051 meters high, the twelfth highest 8000m peak. The Germans tried to climb Broad Peak for the first time in 1954, but due to low temperatures and stormy winds, their efforts were unsuccessful. The first to climb the peak were Austrian climbers Fritz Wintersteller, Markus Schmuck im Kurt Dieberger. The ascent was carried out along the southwest side. The expedition did not use the services of porters and all the property was lifted by the participants themselves, which was rather difficult.
Broad Peak or Jangyang is located on the border between China and Pakistan, a few kilometers southeast of K2. This area is still little explored and geographers hope that over time it can gain sufficient popularity. For all the time, there were 404 successful ascents on Broad Peak. They were unsuccessful for 21 climbers who died while trying to climb. Mortality of ascents is about 5 percent.
1958, July 5 - Gasherbrum I "Hidden Peak"
The mountain is 8080 meters high. Vertex refers mountain range Gasherbrum - Karakorum. Attempts to climb Hidden Peak began a long time ago. In 1934, the members of an international expedition were able to climb only to an altitude of 6300 meters. In 1936, French climbers climbed the 6,900 meter mark. And only two years later, Americans Andrew Kaufman and Pete Schoening climb to the top of Hidden Peak.
Gasherbrum I or Hidden Peak, the eleventh highest eight-thousander in the world, one of the seven peaks of the Gasherbrum massif is located in Kashmir in the Pakistan-controlled Northern region on the border with China. Gasherbrum is translated from the local language as "Polished Wall", and it fully corresponds to this name. Due to its steep, almost polished, rocky slopes, climbing it was rejected by many. A total of 334 people have successfully climbed the peak, while 29 climbers have died while attempting to climb. The mortality rate of ascents is about 9 percent.
1960, May 13 - Dhaulagiri I
"White Mountain" - heights of 8167 meters, the seventh highest of the eight-thousanders. The first to climb to the top were the members of the European team: Dimberger, Shelbert, Diner, Forer and Sherpas Nyima and Navang. For the first time, an airplane was used to deliver expedition members and equipment. On " White Mountain"Noticed back in 1950 the French, members of the 1950 expedition. But then it seemed to them not available and they switched to Annapurna.
Dhaulagiri I is located in Nepal, 13 kilometers from Annapurna and the Argentines tried to climb to its top as early as 1954. But because of a strong blizzard, we did not reach the summit of only 170 meters. Although by the standards of the Himalayas, Dhaulagiri is only the sixth tallest, she is quite a tough nut to crack. So in 1969, while trying to climb, the Americans left seven of their comrades on the southeastern ridge. In total, 448 people successfully climbed to the top of Dhaulagiri I, but 69 climbers died in unsuccessful attempts. The mortality rate of ascents is about 16 percent.
1964, May 2 - Shishabangma
The summit is 8027 meters high. The first to conquer Shishabangma were eight Chinese climbers: Xu Jing, Zhang Zhunyan, Wang Fuzhou, Zhen San, Zheng Tianliang, Wu Tszongyue, Sodnam Dozhi, Migmar Trashi, Dozhi, Yongten. For a long time, climbing this peak was prohibited by the Chinese authorities. And only after the Chinese themselves climbed to its summit, there was an opportunity to participate in ascents and foreign climbers.
The Shishabangma mountain range, in Chinese "Geosenzhanfeng", in Indian "Gosintan" is located in China in the Tibetan Autonomous Region, a few kilometers from the Nepalese border. It consists of three peaks, two of which are over 8 kilometers. Shishabangma Main 8027 meters and Shishabangma Central 8008 meters. As part of the program "All 14 eight-thousanders of the world" there is a rise to the main peak. In total, there were 302 successful ascents to Shishabangu. Twenty-five people died while trying to climb the summit. The mortality rate of ascents is about 8 percent.
As can be seen from the chronology of climbing highest peaks Himalayas, it took more than 40 years to conquer them. Moreover, according to the analysis of the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, the most dangerous of all are: Annapurna, K2, and Nanga Parbat. On the ascents of these three peaks, the Himalayas took the life of every fourth person who encroached on their inaccessibility.
And yet, despite all these mortal dangers, there are people who have conquered all eight-thousanders. The first of these was Reinhold Messner, an Italian mountaineer, German by nationality from South Tyrol. And although already during the first ascent of Nanga Parbat in 1970, his brother Gunter died, and he himself lost seven toes; in the second ascent of Manaslu in 1972, his teammate in the bunch died, this did not stop him. From 1970 to 1986, he climbed all 14 highest peaks of Zamli one by one. Moreover, he climbed Everest twice, in 1978, together with Peter Habeler along the classic route through the South Col, and in 1980 alone along the northern route, moreover, during the monsoon season. Both ascents without the use of oxygen apparatus.
In total, now there are already 32 people in the world who have conquered all 14 eight-thousanders and these are probably not the last people who are waiting for the Himalayas.
