The Killer Mountain

Legend says "When the sun shines, it smokes up there. The demons blow their horns and fairies cook their bread ". Standing at 8126 meters, this is "Nanga Parbat", the worlds' ninth highest and the second highest mountain in Pakistan. Nanga Parbat is a Persian word meaning "Naked Mountain".

Located on the western corner of the Himalayas, no other peak within 100 Km comes anywhere near to its size. Its incomparable Rupal Face (southern side) is one of the greatest precipices in the world - a sheer drop of 4500 meters. Reinhold MessnerReinhold Messner, a living legend in mountaineering from Italy, says that "everyone who has ever stood at the foot of this face (4500 meters) up above the 'Tap Alpe', studied it or flown over it, could not help but have been amazed by its sheer size; it has become known as the highest rock and ice wall in the world!"

Nanga Parbat has always been associated with tragedies and tribulations. It has the highest mortality rate for which it gets the name "The Killer Mountain". Nanga Parbat mountaineering history began in 1895 when a British expedition led by A. F. Mummery attempted to find a way up the southern and western slopes. Unfortunately, the party was hit by an avalanche, and disappeared. These were the first casualties on the Nanga Parbat. In June, 1953 Hermann Buhl a member of an Austro German expedition led by K. M. Herligkoffer successfully managed to climb the main peak of Nanga Parbat. It was Buhl, who took 40 hours of solo climb, conquered this peak and made his name in the history of mountaineering. Eleven climbers and fifteen porters died during the ascent.