Nanda Kot

2021-05-28T17:12:44Z

2401:4900:5A5C:AF5:D8AD:727A:B691:B53D:

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2015}}
{{Infobox mountain
| name = Nanda Kot
| photo = Nanda Kot.jpg
| photo_caption =
| elevation_m = 6861
| elevation_ref = <ref name="peaklist">[http://peaklist.org/WWlists/ultras/karakoram.html "The Karakoram, Pakistan Himalaya and India Himalaya (north of Nepal)"]. Peaklist.org. Retrieved 2014-05-26.</ref>
| prominence_m = 1592
| prominence_ref = <ref name="peaklist"/>
| listing = [[Ultra prominent peak|Ultra]]
| map = India
| map_caption = Location in India
| map_size = 260
| label_position = bottom
| location = [[Pithoragarh district|Pithoragarh]], [[Uttarakhand]], [[India]]
| range = [[Himalaya|Kumaun Himalaya]]
| coordinates = {{coord|30|16|54|N|80|04|06|E|type:mountain_scale:100000|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_ref = <ref name="peaklist"/>
| topo =
| first_ascent = 1936 by {{ill|Yaichi Hotta|ja|堀田弥一}}
| easiest_route = [[Lawan Valley]]
}}

'''Nanda Kot''' ([[Kumaoni language| Kumaoni]]-नन्दा कोट) is a mountain peak of the [[Himalaya]] range located in the [[Pithoragarh district]] of [[Uttarakhand]] state in [[India]]. It lies in the [[Kumaon division|Kumaon]] [[Himalaya]], just outside the ring of peaks enclosing the [[Nanda Devi]] Sanctuary, {{Convert|15|km|mi|0}} southeast of Nanda Devi itself. The name Nanda Kot literally means "Nanda's Fortress" and refers to the abode of one of the sacred forms of the Hindu Goddess [[Parvati]] who in legend has made her sanctuary amongst the ring of lofty mountains in the region.

Nanda Kot is connected to the Sanctuary wall by a high pass known as the Pindari Kanda, {{Convert|5269|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}. This pass, Nanda Kot itself, and the ridge proceeding south from the peak together form the divide between the Pindar and Ghori Ganga River valleys, with Dana Dhura Pass connecting the two sides. The Kaphni (or Kafani), Pindar, Lawan, and Shalang Glaciers drain the south, west, north, and east sides of the peak respectively.<ref name="garhwal-himalaya-ost">''Garhwal-Himalaya-Ost'', 1:150,000 scale topographic map, prepared in 1992 by Ernst Huber for the [[Swiss Foundation for Alpine Research]], based on maps of the [[Survey of India]].</ref>

The first attempt to climb Nanda Kot was made in 1905 by [[Tom George Longstaff|T.G. Longstaff]], who proceeded by way of the Lawan Valley and Lawan Glacier. The first successful ascent of the summit came in 1936 by a Japanese team led by {{ill|Yaichi Hotta|ja|堀田弥一}}. A new route involving a direct ascent of the south face was successfully undertaken by a British expedition led by Martin Moran in 1995. Mountaineering expeditions to Nanda Kot today typically follow the route through Loharkhet, Dhakuri Pass, Khati Village to Dwali base camp.

Outlying subpeaks of Nanda Kot include:
* [[Changuch]], {{Convert|6322|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
* [[Kuchela Dhura]], {{Convert|6294|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
* Nandabhaner (or Nandabhanar), {{Convert|6236|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
* Dangthal, {{Convert|6050|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
* Lespa Dhura (or Laspa Dhura), {{Convert|5913|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
* Lamchir, {{Convert|5662|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}

==Nanda Devi/Nanda Kot nuclear controversy==

In 1965, a covert mission was launched by an Indo-American team with the goal of installing a [[surveillance]] device on the top of [[Nanda Devi]] mountain to monitor [[China|Chinese]] [[nuclear weapon|nuclear]] and [[missile]] activity in [[Tibet]]. Shortly after delivery to the mountain, the thermonuclear generator designed to supply power to the sensor was lost during a storm and threatened to become a source of [[radioactive contamination]] to the area. Following upon at least three futile attempts between 1966-1968 to locate and recover the lost apparatus, it is said that in 1968 a similar device placed only the year before on Nanda Kot was dismantled. After more than a decade of secrecy, this story hit the Indian news media in 1978. There is still debate over these expeditions and whether any remnants of the radioactive materials remain in the vicinity of Nanda Kot to this day.

==See also==
[[Survey of India]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
Nanda Kot Nuclear Controversy:[http://www.tribuneindia.com/2003/20030511/spectrum/book8.htm]
* [http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/apr252004/fp2.asp]
* [http://www.bcasnet.org/articlesandresources/article12_2.htm]
* [http://www.dayafterindia.com/oct205/cover_story.html]

==Books==
* Harish Kapadia, ''Across Peaks and Passes in Kumaun Himalaya''.
* Peter Takeda, ''An Eye At The Top Of The World'', Thunder's Mouth Press, 2006, {{ISBN|978-1-56025-845-2}}

{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Central Intelligence Agency]]
[[Category:Indian intelligence agencies]]
[[Category:Mountains of Uttarakhand]]
[[Category:Geography of Pithoragarh district]]
[[Category:Six-thousanders of the Himalayas]]

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Nanda Kot