Gurla Mandhata

Gurla Mandhata, also known as Naimona Nyi or Namu Nani, is located in the eastern part of Purang County, Ngari Prefecture, Tibet, on the southern shore of the holy lake Manasarovar, opposite the sacred mountain Mount Kailash. The two peaks are about 100 kilometers apart, but the two snow-capped mountains are not the same mountain range. Namu Nani belongs to the Himalayas, while Mount Kailash belongs to the Gangdise Mountains. With an altitude of 7,694 meters, Namu Nani is the 34th highest peak in the world, called the fifth goddess of the Himalayas, " Mountain of the Holy Mother " and " Goddess Peak " by Tibetans.

The Tibetan name of the mountain is Naimona Nyi (གནས་མོ་སྣ་གཉིས།). Naimo means "herb", Na means black, and Nyi means the steep slope of accumulation. So Naimona Nyi means the mountain peak formed by the accumulation of black herbs on the steep slope" in Tibetan.

Overview

Gurla Mandhata is about 200 square kilometers in area and has six main ridges. There are dozens of peaks above 6,000 meters high on the ridge line, with varying heights. The ridges on the west are arranged in a fan shape from north to south. The only ridge on the east has been eroded into a blade ridge, which is very steep, forming a cliff with a height difference of nearly 2,000 meters. In comparison, the slope on the west is relatively gentler, with five huge glaciers pouring through the canyon, and the ice surface is covered with ice cracks and ice cliffs.

The mysterious Gurla Mandhata is also a world of glaciers, with a large number of glaciers distributed here. There are 58 glaciers here, covering an area of 79.81 square kilometers. Most of them are valley glaciers and cirque valley glaciers. Among them, Duoyou Glacier is the largest, with a length of 8.5 kilometers and an area of ​​8.89 square kilometers. The glacier meltwater flows into Majia Zangbo and Manasarovar.

Legend

There is a story about Gurla Mandhata. It is said that the Himalayas and the Gangdise Mountains were famous families at that time. Naimona Nyi was a very outstanding woman in the Himalaya family, beautiful, hard-working and brave. Naimona Nyi and Kailash fell in love with each other at first sight and held a wedding. However, not long after the marriage, Kailash fell in love with Manasarovar, the daughter of the Dragon King - Tethys. Naimona Nyi was heartbroken when she discovered her husband's disloyalty. She resolutely embarked on the road back to her home. She cried all the way and was unable to walk out of the Bagar Prairie at night. After the sun rose, she was turned into stone by the gods, becoming her original appearance.

When Kailash found out that his wife had left, he went out to look for her. He also turned into a mountain on the way, but he was far away from his wife, separated by grasslands as if there was a rift in their relationship. Manasarovar was turned into a lake, too, which is now Lake Manasarovar. Lake Manasarovar is between Kailash and Naimona Nyi as if waiting for Kailash's mercy.

Expedition

Before 2004, there was no systematic investigation of the glaciers over 6,100 meters here. It was not until 2004 that a joint scientific expedition team from China and the United States climbed the Naimona Nyi Glacier, seeing for the first time the huge size, majesty and beauty of the Naimona Nyi Glacier.

Gurla Mandatta is surrounded by a vast 200 square kilometer area with six ridges and multiple peaks above 6,000 meters. This topographical wonder attracts mountaineering enthusiasts. The East Ridge at the peak is carved by strong winds and snow, presenting a daunting vertical drop, while the West Ridge offers a gentler climb route through a glacial valley.

Climbing Gurla Mandhata is not an easy task. Due to its towering height and rugged terrain, it can be a tough challenge even for the most experienced climbers.

Since the first attempt to climb Mount Gurla Mandhata by British climber T.G. Longstaff in 1905, climbers from many countries such as Japan and Austria have made many attempts, but all failed. On May 26 and 28, 1985, 13 members of the Sino-Japanese joint mountaineering team, including Jin Jixi and Songlin Gongzang, successfully summited along the northwest slope of Zalompa Glacier for the first time. Since then, there have been at least five times of summitting of the mountain.

Route of Climbing

The base camp is located on the northwest slope, about 5,650 meters above sea level, at the foot of the glacier. It is the start and end point for reaching the summit of Gurla Mandhata. The most commonly used route to the summit is the same route used by the Sino-Japanese climbing team in 1985, along the northeast ridge route of the Zalompa Glacier, which is the easiest route to the summit. There are two other routes, from the south and east. But these two routes are more difficult and are only suitable for very experienced climbers. Even the easiest route, climbing along the northeast ridge, is still not suitable for novices and requires some climbing experience above 6,500 meters to summit the peak.

Best Time to Visit

Naimona Nyi is beautiful in all seasons, but the best time to visit it is from May to October every year when the climate is suitable and the scenery is most beautiful. The best time to climb Naimona Nyi is from May to late June. During this period, there is more good weather, which may last for 6 to 8 days. The rainy season starts in early July, with the heaviest rainfall in July and August.

How to Get There

To explore Naimona Nyi, you can first go to Purang. Starting from Purang County, you can choose to ride a horse or hike to Namu Nani. It is highly recommended to hire a local tour guide. For photography enthusiasts, sunrise and sunset offer magical views. The best location is near the village of Hall. If you are departing from other places, here are some tips for you.

1. If you are going south from Kashgar, Xinjiang, along the Xinjiang-Tibet Highway, through Yecheng, Shiquanhe to Purang. The entire journey is 1,660 kilometers.
2. If you are heading west from Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, you will pass through Shigatse, Saga to Purang, a total distance of 1,433 kilometers.
3. If you are starting from Nepal via the land route of Gyirong Border to Gyirong Town, and then Saga to Purang. The distance between Gyirong Port and Purang County is about 700 kilometers.

Conclusion

Gurla Mandhata is a testament to the grandeur of nature and the spiritual richness of Tibetan culture. Its challenging terrain and breathtaking views, coupled with deep historical and religious connections, make it irresistible to adventurers and spiritual seekers.