Shivling (mountain)
| Shivling | |
|---|---|
Shivling (left) as seen from Nandanvan campsite | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 6,543 m (21,467 ft) |
| Prominence | 850 m (2,790 ft) |
| Coordinates | 30°52′49.48″N 79°03′48.49″E / 30.8804111°N 79.0634694°E |
| Geography | |
| Location | Uttarakhand, India |
| Parent range | Gangotri Group, Garhwal Himalayas |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | 3 June 1974 by Hukam Singh, Laxman Singh, Ang Tharkey, Pemba Tharkey, Pasang Sherpa |
Shivling is a mountain in the Gangotri Group of peaks in the western Garhwal Himalaya, near the snout of the Gangotri Glacier, one of the biggest glaciers in the Himalayas, and Tapovan, a beautiful lush meadows, both being also popular pilgrimage sites in Hinduism. It lies in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand, 6 kilometres (4 mi) south of the Hindu holy site of Gaumukh (the source of the Bhagirathi River). Its name refers to its status as a sacred symbol – Shiva Linga. It was called "Matterhorn Peak" by early European visitors because of its similarity in appearance to that Alpine peak. While not of locally great elevation, it is a dramatic rock peak, and the most visually striking peak as seen from Gaumukh; that and the difficulty of the climb make it a famed prize for mountaineers.