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{{Use Indian English|date=July 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2015}}
{{Infobox mountain
| name = Neelkanth
| photo = Neelkanth.jpg
| photo_caption =
| elevation_m = 6500
| elevation_ref =
| prominence_m = 1200
| prominence_ref = <ref name="DEM">Corrected [[SRTM]] data, available at [http://www.viewfinderpanoramas.org Viewfinder Panoramas]</ref><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>
| location = [[Uttarakhand]], [[India]]
| range = Garhwal [[Himalayas]]
| map = India
| map_size = 250
| label_position = right
| coordinates = {{coord|30|43|12|N|79|24|00|E|type:mountain_scale:100000|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_ref =
| first_ascent = 3 June 1974 by Sonam Pulzor, Kanhiya Lal, Dilip Singh, Nima Dorje
| easiest_route =
}}

'''Nilkantha''' (or '''Neelakant''', '''Neelkanth''', '''Nilkanth''', '''Nilkanta''') is a major peak of the [[Garhwal Himalaya|Garhwal]] division of the [[Himalayas]], in the [[Uttarakhand]] region of the [[India]]n state of [[Uttarakhand]]. Although substantially lower than the highest peaks of the region, it towers dramatically over the valley of the [[Alaknanda River]] and rises {{Convert|3474|m|ft|0}} above the [[Hindu]] pilgrimage site of [[Badrinath]], only {{Convert|9|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} to the east.<ref name="garhwal-himalaya-ost"/> [[Frank Smythe]] described the peak as "second only to [[Siniolchu]] in Himalayan beauty."<ref name="aaj_1956">''[[American Alpine Journal]]'', 1956, p. 77</ref>

The [[Satopanth Glacier]] lies on the northwest side of Nilkantha, below a {{Convert|2500|m|ft|-2|abbr=on}} face of the peak. The [[Panpatia Glacier]] lies to the southwest, and feeds the [[Khirao Ganga]], a stream running under the south side of the peak. Further away, to the west of the peak, lies the well-known [[Gangotri Glacier]] and its associated peaks. Across the Alaknanda valley lie the [[Kamet]] and [[Nanda Devi]] groups.

==Etymology==
{{IAST|Nīlakaṇtha}} (Sanskrit {{lang|sa|नीलकण्ठ}}; ''nīla'' = "blue", ''{{IAST|kaṇtha}}'' = "throat") is one of the Hindu deity, [[Shiva#Attributes|Shiva]]'s many epithets.<ref>{{Harvnb|Sharma|1996|p=290}}</ref><ref>See: name #93 in Chidbhavananda, p. 31.</ref>

In Hindu mythology, there was initially no mountain on the spot where Nilkantha stands today. There was an adage{{clarify|date=May 2015}} route between [[Kedarnath]] and [[Badrinath]]. The ''"Purahita"'' or the worshiper of the two temples worshiped them in one day. This continued for a long time until due to some sins of the worshiper, [[Shiva]] became displeased with him and stood blocking the way as a huge sky-kissing mountain, which is said to be modern Nilkantha.{{citation needed|date=May 2015}}

== Climbing history ==
With its steep ridges and faces, Nilkantha resisted seven climbing attempts, beginning with Frank Smythe in 1937.<ref name="him_index">[http://www.alpine-club.org.uk/hi/ Himalayan Index] (However note that this incorrectly lists the 1961 expedition as an attempt, not a successful ascent.)</ref><ref name="aaj_1962"/>

The peak was purportedly first climbed on 13 June 1961, by an expedition led by Col. Narinder Kumar, with Shri O.P. Sharma and Sherpas Lakpa Giyalbu and Phurba Lobsang reaching the summit. They placed their base camp on the [[Satopanth Glacier]] and ascended via the north face.<ref name="aaj_1962">''American Alpine Journal'' 1962, p. 272. [http://www.americanalpineclub.org/documents/pdf/aaj/1962/268_asia_aaj1962.pdf#search=%22nilkantha%22 Online link].</ref>{{dead link|date=May 2015}}<ref>''Neelkantha'', Col. N. Kumar.</ref> Jagdish Nanavati, Honorary Secretary of the Himalayan Club, Bombay, studied the ascent and came to the conclusion that the expedition had gravely underestimated the route and faltered far below the summit in bad weather. Nevertheless, a committee of the Indian Mountaineering Foundation ratified the ascent late in 1963, though they recommended the expedition to be repeated the next year to confirm the terrain and timing.<ref>Harish Kapadia, [https://books.google.com/books?id=KNhJXSjSk70C&pg=PA60 High Himalaya Unknown Valleys], Indus Publishing, 2002, pp. 60-61</ref>

[[File:Mt. Nilkanth-2.jpg|thumb|300px|View of Mt. Nilkantha from Badrinath]]
The generally accepted first ascent was made on 3 June 1974 by Sonam Pulzor, Kanhiya Lal, Dilip Singh, and Nima Dorje of the Indo-[[Tibet]]an Border Police. The expedition was led by S. P. Chamoli. After unsuccessfully attempting the west ridge, they reached the summit via the north face, making three camps above base camp.<ref name="aaj_1975">''[[American Alpine Journal]]'', 1975, p. 208</ref>

The second ascent of Nilkantha was only in 1993 by an international team under Col. H.S. Chauhan via the north-east ridge. No fewer than 32 climbers made the summit between 31 May and 2 June.<ref>[http://publications.americanalpineclub.org/articles/12199423002/Asia-IndiaGarhwal-Nilkantha]</ref>

[[File:A view of Neelkanth mountain.jpg|thumb|Neelkanth mountain as seen from a valley while trekking from Badrinath to Neelkanth.]]
In 2000, five British climbers led by Martin Moran made the third ascent and the first ascent over the west ridge.<ref>Martin Moran (2002) [http://www.alpinejournal.org.uk/Contents/Contents_2002_files/AJ%202002%2023-30%20Moran%20Nilkanth.pdf Nilkanth West Ridge], The Alpine Journal</ref> In November 2001, the Slovenian climbers [[Marko Prezelj]] and Matic Jost repeated this route. In 2007, the Himalayan Club Calcutta claimed an ascent via the west ridge as well, but their climb was later shown to have stopped about 150 metres below the highest point on the mountain.<ref>Jagdish C. Nanavati (2001) [https://www.himalayanclub.org/hj/65/13/nilkanth-missed/ Nilkanth Missed], The Himalayan Journal Vol 62.</ref> The [[Indian Mountaineering Foundation]] (IMF) has not yet formally rejected the claim.{{Citation needed|date=April 2011}}

The leader of the 2007 Himalayan Club Kolkata Section AVM (Retd) Apurva Bhattacharya had made detailed technical representation on their claimed ascent up to the Summit ridge of Nilkanth. An Internal Authentication committee was set us by IMF to study the contention
of the 2007 team. On detailed analysis, the authentication committee concluded that the 2007 team had indeed reached the summit ridge of Nilkanth and deemed this expedition to be successful. Communication to this end was made by IMF to the Expedition leader vide letter dated 6 August 2014.{{cn|date=May 2015}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Geography of Chamoli district]]
[[Category:Mountains of Uttarakhand]]
[[Category:Six-thousanders of the Himalayas]]

Nilkantha (mountain) - Revision history

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