Kirat Chuli (Tent Peak)
In the Limbu language, Kirat Chuli, meaning “Kirat People,” was named after the God Kirat. And the mountain is believed to be a home to the all-knowing goddess Yuma Sammang.
It is located in the Eastern Development Region of Nepal and Sikkim, India. Its parent mountain is Kangchenjunga to the south of the mountain, and other nearby peaks include Siniolchu and Simvo to the southeast, Gimmigela Chuli also to the south, Ramthang Chang to the southwest, Drohmo to the northwest, and Pathibara and Langpo Peak to the north.
To the southeast of the mountain is Khangchendzonga National Park, home to many rare and endangered plant and animal species.
Country: India, Nepal
State/Province: Eastern Development Region, Sikkim
Mountain Range: Kangchenjunga Himalaya
Parents: Kangchenjunga
Elevation: 24,153 feet / 7,362 meters
Prominence: 3,832 feet / 1,168 meters
First Ascent: 1939 by Ernst Grob, Herbert Paidar, and Ludwig Schmaderer.
Fun Fact: Kirat Chuli is the 76th highest peak in the world.
Plant Life: Kirat Chuli is near Khangchendzonga National Park, known for its ancient forests. It contains orchids, rhododendrons, and the most extensive area of krummholz, or stunted forest, in the Himalayan region.
Animal Life: Many cat species reside in Khangchendzonga National Park, including the leopard, snow leopard, clouded leopard, Indian leopard, jungle cat, golden cat, and leopard cat. The park is also home to the red panda, Himalayan black bear, Tibetan wolf, jackal, large Indian civet, Himalayan blue sheep, Himalayan tahr, Mainland serow, two species of musk deer, two primates, dhole, sloth bear, viverrids, Tibetan wild ass, mainland serow, goral, takin, four species of pika, and the flying squirrel.
Bird Life: Nearby Khangchendzonga National Park holds up to half of India’s bird species, like the impeyan and blood pheasant, eagle, satyr tragopan, osprey, Himalayan griffon, lammergeier, Western tragopan, snow and green pigeon, Tibetan snowcock, Asian emerald cuckoo, and sunbird.
Sources:
- Wikipedia: Kirat Chuli, Khangchendzonga National Park
- UNESCO: Khangchendzonga National Park
- Google Maps
Links:
- American Alpine Club: Kirat Chuli Attempt
