Nanga Parbat

Nanga Parbat, also known as Killer Mountain, is located on the border between Diamer and Astore districts. It is locally known as Diamer, King of the mountains. It is the 9th highest mountain in the world, having a height of 8,126 meters.

The Killer Mountain

Nanga Parbat is the most difficult mountain to climb due to its vertical and dangerous structure. The weather conditions here, becomes too much uncertain within few minutes. Within few minutes, it covers with clouds and temperature drops drastically below freezing point and makes the server difficulties for climbers to continue their hike. The number of average death penalties are much higher while climbing it, so known as the Killer Mountain.

Highest Elevations of Nanga Parbat

Nanga Parbat has a sharp vertical and prominent peak on all sides, rising 15,090 feet from the base camp from the Rupal Face that is the highest mountain face in the World, whereas it rises 22,966 feet on the Raikot Flank from Indus River valley to the summit in just 25 km, that is one of the ten greatest elevation. Nanga Parbat has the second most clear and prominent peak in the World, after Mount Everest. The north side leading toward the Indus River is covered with a number of subsidiary summits including North Peak, also known as Chongra, which is more difficult to climb.

Nanga Parbat Ridge and Faces

Nanga Parbat is the western anchor of the Himalayan Range and is just on the south of the Indus River. Nanga Parbat peak has tremendous vertical relief over local terrain in all directions. It is a long ridge that is composed of a huge bulk of ice and rock from southwest to northeast. It has three faces, the Raikot, Diamer, and Rupal faces. On the southwestern ridge, also called the Mazeno Wall, has number of small subsidiary peaks. In Northeast on the main ridge, there is Raikot Peak at the elevation of 23,200 ft. The south side is dominated by the Rupal Face. The north side leads to the Indus River is more dangerous and complex and splits into the Diamer face and Raikot face. The North Peak at the elevation of 25,643 ft at three kilometers from the main summit. There is a glacier lake called Latbo Lake near the base of the Rupal Face.

Raikot Face - the Most Commercial Trek

Raikot Face is the north side of the Nanga Parbat and is the thrilling and classic tourist route from the Diamer district. From the Raikot Bridge, a narrow and rugged jeep trek leads to the grassy land of Fairy Meadows with lush pine forests. It is the most famous and well known commercial trek to hide toward Nanga Parbat Base Camp. From there, one can further hide toward the Nanga Parbat base camp known as Beyal Camp. Raikot Face is composed of more than 7,000 meters solid ice and snow.

Diamer Face - the Most Difficult and Isolated Trek

The west of the Nanga Parbat is known as Diamer Face and it is sheer vertical wall of more than 5,000 meters. It is also accessible from the Diamer district and considered as one of most dangerous and highly isolated trek to ascend the summit. It is mostly preferable choice only by the professional climbers to ascend using rugged and difficult treks.

Rupal Face - the Highest Vertical Ice Wall

The south side of the Nanga Parbat is call Rupal Face and is more than 4,600 meter high ice wall and knowns as the one of the highest rock wall on Earth. It is accessible by using rugged and bumpy trek through the Tarashing Village from the Astore district side. It is less crowdy and trekkers can enjoy the hide through the lush green pastures and alpine villages in front to the highest ice wall.

History of Ascending the Summit

First attempt to achieve the summit of Nanga Parbat was performed in 1895 by Albert F. Mummery, but he failed to do so and disappeared on the Diamer Face. Then in German-Austrian expeditions of 1930s, climbers again had to face tragic losses due to severe blizzards and avalanches. Then first successful attempt was done in on 3 July 1953 by Austrian climber Hermann Buhi from the Raikot Flank. He completed the final push to achieve summit in 40 hours without supplementary oxygen, as his luck and set a record in mountaineering history.

The first successful attempt in winter season was done by an international team consisting of Simone Moro, Alex Txikon, and Ali Sadpara, and they achieved it on 26 Febrary 2016, after facing the extreme freezing temperatures and fierce snowy winds. Ali Sadpara is the first Pakistani who was in this winning team.

Fairy Meadows - Lush Pine Forest

Fairy Meadows is the splendid place to visit in front of Rakhiot Face, which is full of lush green landscapes. Tourists can enjoy the beautiful weather there with a splendid view of Nanga Parbat in front of them. One-night stay gives you the chance to observe the sky full of stars in clear weather. Camping sites are also available there. If you visit in dark nights, then you will observe the hunge number of stars in the sky. It will be a unique experience in your life as you have never seen such sky with countless stars.

Beyal Camp, Nanga Parbat Base Camp Trek

Beyal Camp is the next point after Fairy Meadows to get a closer view of Nanga Parbat. It is a resting point to start the next most dangerous 4-5 hours trek toward Base Camp in front of the Nanga Parbat. Trek passes through the Riakot Glacier, which is the most difficult part of the trek. Trek can be even covered by inexperience trekkers as it is much straight trek with a little difficulty, so no need of specialize mountain hiking equipment. But you must equip yourself with special hiking shoes and hiking stick.

Visit the highest ice wall on the earth and the lush green valley of Rupal via the pine meadows of Tarashing, explore our complete Astore Valley Travel Guide.

About Diamer

Diamer is the district of Gilgit-Baltistan at average elevation of 4,150 feet on the Karakoram Highway along the Indus River. It is the gateway to access the mighty mountains of Karakoram Range in Gilgit-Baltistan from Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa province. The Chilas is the capital town of the Diamer district.

Nanga Parbat is famous for Highest Mountain Face in the World

Nanga Parbat has a sharp vertical and prominent peak on the Rupal side, it is the highest Mountain Face in World, also known as Rupal Face. It rises 15,090 feet from its base.