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India Today
29-05-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Why summiting of Himalayan peak from Nepal stirred up a storm in Sikkim
A recent expedition to Mount Kangchenjunga, the world's third-highest peak located on the border between India and Nepal, by a team of mountaineers from the Nepalese side has sparked outrage in Sikkim. Such intense has been the reaction that the Chief Minister of the state, Prem Singh Tamang, wrote to the Centre, seeking a prohibition of such expeditions from the Nepal side. There is a reason behind this 8,586-metre-high Himalayan peak, considered sacred by the Bhutia and Lepcha communities of Sikkim, has long been off-limits to climbers from the Indian side. Expressing deep concern, CM Tamang wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, urging the Centre to take steps to prevent such expeditions in the letter followed an outrage by the Sikkim Bhutia Lepcha Apex Committee (SIBLAC), which condemned the ascent, demanding stricter enforcement of the ban to protect Sikkim's cultural heritage. A joint team of mountaineers from Arunachal Pradesh's National Institute of Mountaineering and Adventure Sports (NIMAS), led by Colonel Ranveer Singh Jamwal, summited Mount Kangchenjunga, via the easier Nepal route on May 18. The expedition, part of the "Har Shikhar Tiranga" mission to hoist the national flag on India's second-highest peak, has now sparked outrage in Sikkim, where the mountain is revered as a sacred deity. India's highest peak, Mount K2 (8,611 metres), lies in Pakistan-Occupied SUMMIT BANNED UNDER PLACES OF WORSHIP ACTadvertisementSikkim, in 2001, banned expeditions to "Mount Khangchendzongna" under the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang on May 24 wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, urging diplomatic talks with Nepal to halt such climbs, citing the mountain's profound spiritual significance and a longstanding ban on scaling the peak called "Dzoe-Nga" by the locals."The recent reports of this ascent have caused widespread anguish among the people of Sikkim. The mountain is not just a peak, it is a living deity... In view of the above, we earnestly urge that this matter be treated with the utmost sensitivity and respect...," Tamang wrote, urging Shah to take up the matter with letter followed a condemnation of the assent from the Sikkim Bhutia Lepcha Apex Committee (SIBLAC) demanding stricter enforcement of the ban to protect Sikkim's cultural heritage."This is not just about climbing; it's about respect, legality, and identity," the SIBLAC said, adding, "the Khangchendzonga", meaning "Five Treasures of the High Snows", is considered a guardian deity and the abode of ban on Mount Kangchenjunga's summits aligns with Article 371F of the Indian Constitution, which safeguards Sikkim's cultural and religious laws after it merged with India in the recent climb from the Nepal side, where no such ban exists, has reignited tensions, as it bypasses Sikkim's EASIER FROM NEPAL SIDEClimbing Kangchenjunga is technically easier from Nepal due to more accessible routes from the southwest, northwest, and northeast, compared to the near-vertical northeastern route from Sikkim, which has been closed since summits are active from the Nepal Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation issued permits to as many as 41 climbers between March 1 and April 25 alone. It generated USD 73,800 in royalty fees during the one-and-a-half-month climbing season, reported the Kathmandu-based daily, Mount Kangchenjunga continues to attract climbers from around the world, the challenge now lies in balancing mountaineering pursuits with the deep-rooted spiritual sentiments of the indigenous people of the Watch
NDTV
28-05-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Sikkim Seeks Ban On Scaling Kanchenjunga, Days After Army Team Summitted It
The Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang has written to the Union Home Minister Amit Shah to hold talks with Nepal to bring into effect a ban on scaling Mt Kanchenjunga, the third highest mountain peak in the world, as it is regarded sacred by the people of his state. Climbing the Kanchenjunga is not allowed from the Sikkimese side and mountaineers scale the peak from the Nepal side. In the letter, Mr Tamang referred to the May 18 ascent of the peak by a five-member team from the National Institute of Mountaineering and Adventure Sports (NIMAS) from the Nepal side, adding that this has hurt Sikkim's indigenous communities. The Chief Minister wrote, "Mount Khangchendzonga holds profound spiritual and religious significance for the people of Sikkim. Regarded as the most sacred mountain in the state its name translates to "Five Treasures Of The High Snows", symbolising five divine treasures. According to the Sikkimese belief system, these treasures remain hidden and shall be revealed only to the devout when the world is in grave peril." "The mountain is revered as the abode of the principal guardian and protector-deity of Sikkim known as the 'Dzoe-Nga'. This sacred being is worshipped as the 'Pho-Lha,' or chief of the entire assemblage of supernatural entities of Sikkim. These deities were recognised and anointed as the 'Guardian Deities of the Land' by Ugyen Guru Rinpoche, also known as Guru Padmasambhava, the patron saint of Sikkim," he further wrote. Asking for a complete ban on mountaineering activities on the mountain, the Mr Tamang wrote the move will be "in deference to the deeply-held beliefs and cultural values of the people of Sikkim". His letter comes after Sikkim Bhutia Lepcha Apex Committee (SIBLAC) raised the issue with the authorities. On April 4 this year, the SIBLAC wrote to the Sikkim Governor Om Prakash Mathur, seeking his immediate attention for safeguarding the cultural and spiritual heritage of Sikkim. "The Government of Sikkim in 2001, banned expeditions to Mount Khangchendzongna under the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991, which protects sacred sites. This ban was reinforced by Article 371 (F) of the Indian Constitution, which safeguards Sikkim's cultural and religious laws post its 1975 merger with India, under which there exists a law prohibiting the climbing of this mountain. Additionally, the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, revoked its earlier decision to open this mountain in September 2019, removing Kanchenjunga and thirteen other sacred peaks from the list of open peaks", the SIBLAC said in a letter to the Governor. The Indian Army's NIMAS, located at Dirang in Arunachal Pradesh, summitted Mount Kangchenjunga (8,586 metres), as part of the 'Har Shikhar Tiranga' Mission, a patriotic mission to hoist the Indian national flag atop the highest peak of each of India's 28 states. The summitting of the Kanchenjunga has secured a 100 per cent success for the NIMAS. "This wasn't just another expedition for us. This was the final summit of the iconic Har Shikhar Tiranga Mission - a journey to hoist the Tricolour on the highest peak of every Indian state. With this climb, Team NIMAS has etched history - completing a mission that fused adventure, patriotism, and purpose. 5 team members, 100 per cent success, and a summit that tested every ounce of our will. To all those who believed, supported, and prayed , this one is for you. And to the mighty Kangchenjunga - you humbled us, and you made us better," the mountaineering team from NIMAS said. The NIMAS team summitted the Kanchenjunga using the normal route that mountaineers use, which is climbing the mountain from the Nepal side and sources say the expedition was conducted with utmost respect and reverence to all beliefs. The mountain is accessible to mountaineers and Nepal has not imposed any ban on the climbing of the mountain. Sources familiar with the expedition told NDTV that they were surprised the summiting of the peak has become an issue. "Mountaineering activity continues at the Kanchenjunga normally and the team summitted the peak like all other expeditions from across the world. Keeping our beliefs in mind, all efforts were taken to keep the sanctity and spiritual sensibilities intact and the expedition was conducted with utmost respect," the team said. According to Nepal's Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation, from March 1 to April 25 this year, 41 climbers received permits to scale Mt Kanchenjunga, the world's third highest peak, within the climbing season which is usually limited to a period of one-and-a-half months every year. The Government of Nepal collects royalty fees from climbers and issues permits and it is a major economic activity and source of revenue for Nepal. This year, the revenue earned from royalty fees amounted to $73,800 between March 1 to April 25. However, no expeditions to the mountain have taken place from the Indian side over the last two decades in deference to the customs and beliefs of the people of Sikkim who regard climbing of the peak as the desecration of the mountain. The Kanchenjunga, till today, remains the highest in terms of the fatality rate for mountaineers and it is considered more difficult to climb than Mount Everest, the highest mountain peak in the world.
The Hindu
22-05-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
Indian team scales world's third-highest peak
GUWAHATI A team from the National Institute of Mountaineering and Adventure Sports (NIMAS) in Arunachal Pradesh's Dirang became the first from India this climbing season to scale Mount Khangchendzonga, the world's third-highest peak. While the feat has been hailed as the first '100% success' in scaling the peak, the Sikkim Bhutia Lepcha Apex Committee (SIBLAC) found it 'painful', as Mt. Khangchendzonga is revered as the guardian deity of the indigenous communities in the Himalayan State. The '100%' refers to all five members of the team led by NIMAS Director Col. Ranveer Singh Jamwal reaching the summit on May 18. A five-member team from the Army achieved the same feat a day later. 'In a season marked by extreme conditions and high attrition, every climber from the NIMAS team who attempted the summit made it — an extraordinary accomplishment on one of the most formidable mountains in the world,' a statement from a Ministry of Defence spokesperson read. Mt. Khangchendzonga, India's tallest peak at 8,586 metres above sea level, borders Sikkim and Nepal. The NIMAS and the Army teams approached the peak from the Nepal side, as the mountain is considered too sacred in Sikkim to set foot on. 'The expedition marked the culmination of 'Har Shikhar Tiranga', a patriotic mission to hoist the Indian national flag atop the highest peak of each of India's 28 States. The expedition was a tribute to every corner of India, and I am honoured to have led the mission,' he said after reaching the base camp on Thursday (May 22, 2025). Members of the SIBLAC said the climbers did display character in scaling Mt. Khangchendzonga but lamented the 'indifference' of the Ministry of Defence to their plea to call off the expedition. 'The Nepal government has been consistently ignoring our appeals to make the peak out of bounds for climbers because of the sacredness attached to it. We hoped our government would listen to us,' SIBLAC advisor, S.B. Tshering, told The Hindu. Recognised as a sacred site, Mt. Khangchendzonga is protected under the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991. The people of Sikkim celebrate Pang Lhabsol, an annual festival, to honour and remember the spiritual significance of the mountain.
