| Kanchenjunga Trekking
Kanchenjunga is the world’s third highest
mountain and is situated in the north-eastern corner of Nepal,
straddling the border with Sikkim. Kanchenjunga is not a single
summit but a mountain massif consisting of five summits with
several satellite peaks and glaciers.
Until Nepal opened its borders to foreign
visitors in the early 1950’s Kanchenjunga was probably
the best recognised and most well known of all the Himalaya
peaks as it could be clearly seen from Darjeeling, then part
of the British regime. After the border control was relaxed,
focus turned to the Annapurna and Everest regions and Kanchenjunga
lost a bit of its appeal. Access became difficult from the
east, the traditional starting point, as Sikkim then closed
its border to foreign travellers. It was not until as late
as 1988 that access to the north side of Kanchenjunga was
relaxed and explorers, climbers and trekkers were able to
fully appreciate the majestic beauty of this Himalayan giant.
The area is home to a variety of endangered
species; The snow leopard, musk deer, red panda, grey wolf
and the Himalayan Black Bear. It is still a pristine environment
and an area that every mountain lover should not only visit
but take an active role in protecting its natural diversity.
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