HughStoate90988 at 21:33, 18 January 2026

2026-01-18T21:33:26Z

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{{Infobox mountain
| name = Bhagirathi Massif
| other_name =
| photo =Bhagirathi Massif.jpg
| photo_caption =from left to right Vasuki Parbat, Bhagirathi Parbat II, IV, III, I
| elevation_m = 6856
| elevation_ref =<ref>{{Cite web|title=Bhagirathi Parvat I - Peak Details|url=https://himalayanhigh.in/himalayas/himalayan-resource.aspx?resourceRequested=2000&resource-ResourceID=71|website=Himalayan High|language=en|access-date=2020-05-02}}</ref>
| prominence_m = 672
| prominence_ref =<ref>{{Cite web|title=Bhagirathi 1|url=https://peakvisor.com/peak/bhagirathi-1.html|website=PeakVisor|language=en|access-date=2020-05-02}}</ref>
| listing =
| range = [[Garhwal Himalaya]]
| location = [[Uttarakhand]], [[India]]
| map = Uttarakhand
| range_coordinates =
| map_caption = Location in Uttarakhand
| map_size = 260
| label_position = right
| coordinates = {{coord|30|51|00|N|79|08|57|E|type:mountain|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_ref =
| first_ascent = The first ascent by Japanese Expedition 1980.
| easiest_route =
}}

'''Bhagirathi Massif''' or Bhagirathi Group (Hindi: भागीरथी ) is a mountain range of Garhwal Himalaya in [[Gangotri Glacier]] Uttarakhand India, It has four peaks between 6856 meter and 6193 meter.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Himalayan Index - Results of Search by Name|url=http://www.alpine-club.org.uk/hi/screen2a_2.php|website=www.alpine-club.org.uk|access-date=2020-05-02|archive-date=2016-12-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161205163820/http://www.alpine-club.org.uk/hi/screen2a_2.php|url-status=dead}}</ref> The [[Bhagirathi I]] summits is 6856 meter or 22493 feet. It was first climbed by A Japanese team in 1980.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Kapadia, Harish.|title=Across peaks & passes in Garhwal Himalaya|date=1999|publisher=Indus Publ. Co|isbn=81-7387-097-7|oclc=231871911}}</ref> It is surrounded by [[Glaciers]] on four side on the eastern side of the Massif is [[Vasuki Glacier]], on the western side its [[Gangotri Glacier]] the main glacier in this area, northern side is surrounded by [[Chaturangi Glacier]] and southern side guarded by [[Swachhhand Glacier]].

The entire massif and surrounding area are protected within the {{convert|2390|sqkm|abbr=on}} [[Gangotri National Park]], the third largest national park in India.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Biggest National Parks in India |url=https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/the-biggest-national-parks-in-india.html |website=World Atlas |access-date=17 March 2021}}</ref> The Gangotri National Park is home to several world-class treks, including [[Gangotri]] [[Gomukh]] Tapoban, [[Kedarnath Temple|Kerdarnath]] [[Vasuki tal]] trek. [[Har ki dun]] valley trek.

==Climbing history==

[[Bhagirathi Parbat I|Bhagirathi I]] was first climbed by a Japanese expedition team via its south-east ridge in 1980. They used around 2000 m rope for fixing and technical climbing. The second climb happened in 1983 by a British team led by [[Martin Moran (climber)|Martin Moran]] and his three friends John Mothersele, Charlie Heard and Kevin Flint via the west ridge. On 21 August, Martin Moran and Charlie Heard reached the summit around 4.30 pm; the next day on 22 August, Charlie Heard died from a fall while abseiling.<ref>{{Cite web|title=BHAGIRATHI I EXPEDITION, 1983 : Himalayan Journal vol.40/16|url=https://www.himalayanclub.org/hj/40/16/bhagirathi-i-expedition-1983/|website=www.himalayanclub.org|access-date=2020-05-02}}</ref>

[[Bhagirathi Parbat II|Bhagirathi II]] was the first ascent by Austrians Edi Ellmauthaler and Toni Messner in 1933. The first Indian success on this peak came on 20 October 1966. Govinda Raj, Amar Ray, and two Sherpas, Karma and Gyalboo climbed to the summit after a ten-hour of a difficult climb. while coming back from a summit in a freak accident Amar Ray, and two Sherpas Karma and Gyalboo died while Govinda Raj got frostbite.<ref>{{Cite web|title=CHATURANGI EXPEDITION, 1966 : Himalayan Journal vol.27/17|url=https://www.himalayanclub.org/hj/27/17/chaturangi-expedition-1966/|website=www.himalayanclub.org|access-date=2020-05-02}}</ref>

[[Bhagirathi Parbat III|Bhagirathi III]] was the first ascent by Britishers [[Colin Kirkus]] and Charles Warren reached the summit for the first time in 1933.<ref>Pallis, Marco (1939) ''Peaks and Lamas''. London: Cassell</ref> The first Indian success on this peak came on 20 October 1966. Janez Jeglic and [[Silvo Karo]] climbed the overhanging west face on 7 September 1990.<ref>{{Cite web|title=BHAGIRATHI HI, WEST FACE : Himalayan Journal vol.47/12|url=https://www.himalayanclub.org/hj/47/12/bhagirathi-hi-west-face/|website=www.himalayanclub.org|access-date=2020-05-02}}</ref>

First ascent of [[Bhagirathi Parbat IV|Bhagirathi IV]] In 2009 three Slovenians friend Rok Blagus, Luka Lindic, and [[Marko Prezelj]] climbed and descended west face of Bhagirathi IV in a single day first reported ascent of this peak.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Trio of New Routes in Indian Himalaya|url=https://www.climbing.com/news/trio-of-new-routes-in-indian-himalaya/|last=MacDonald|first=Dougald|website=Climbing Magazine|language=en-us|access-date=2020-05-02}}</ref> in 1994 Matjaz Jamnik and [[Silvo Karo]] another Slovenians tried and reached up to 5500 meters in eleven attempts, but due to bad weather could not make it to the summit.

{{wide image|File:Bhagirathi peaks from Chirvasa IMG 1021 (cropped).jpg|900px|Bhagirathi Massif from Chirvasa. Left to right: [[Bhagirathi Parbat II|Bhagirathi II]]; [[Bhagirathi Parbat IV|Bhagirathi IV]]; [[Bhagirathi Parbat III|Bhagirathi III]] and [[Bhagirathi Parbat I|Bhagirathi I]].}}

==Etymology==
The mountain is named after [[Bhagiratha]], the legendary king of the Ikshvaku dynasty who brought the River Ganges, to Earth from the heavens. To commemorate his efforts, the mainstream that comes out of Gangotri Glacier snout "Gomukh" is called Bhagirathi, till it meets [[Alaknanda River]] at [[Devprayag]] where the name changes to Ganga.

==Geography==
The Bhagirathi massif contains four [[Topographic prominence|prominent]] peaks over {{convert|6193|m|ft|-1|abbr=on}} elevation:
{| class="wikitable"
!Mountain
!Elevation
![[List of highest mountains on Earth|Rank]]
!Prominence
!Coordinate
|-
|[[Bhagirathi Parbat I|Bhagirathi I]]
|6,856 m (22,493 ft)
|393rd
|672 m
|{{coord|30|51|00|N|79|08|57|E|type:mountain}}
|-
|[[Bhagirathi Parbat II|Bhagirathi II]]
|6,512 m (21,365 ft)
|
|517 m
|{{coord|30|52|55|N|79|08|01|E|type:mountain}}
|-
|[[Bhagirathi Parbat III|Bhagirathi III]]
|6,454 m (21,175 ft)
|
|351 m
|{{coord|30|52|09|N|79|08|01|E|type:mountain}}
|-
|[[Bhagirathi Parbat IV|Bhagirathi IV]]
|6,193 m (20,317 ft)
|
|
|{{coord|30|52|35|N|79|07|59|E|type:mountain}}
|}

==Neighboring peaks==

Bhagirathi Massif neighboring peaks:
* '''[[Satopanth]]''', 7,075m (23,212 ft), {{coord|30|50|42|N|79|12|45|E|type:mountain}}
* '''[[Vasuki Parbat]]''', 6,792m (22,283 ft), {{coord|30|52|30|N|79|10|30|E|type:mountain}}
* '''[[Shivling (mountain)|Shivling]]''', 6,543 m (21467 ft), {{coord|30|52|49.48|N|79|03|48.49|E|type:mountain}}

==Glaciers and rivers==

The Gangotri Glacier on the west side and Vasuki Glacier on the east side northern side are surrounded by Chaturangi Glacier and southern side guarded by Swachhhand Glacier. From the snout of Gangotri Glacier emerges Bhagirathi river also called Ganga or Ganges after it meets Alaknanda at Devpryag.

==Gallery==

<gallery>
File:Bhagirath View From Bhojvasa.JPG|Bhagirathi Massif from Bhojwasa

File:Bhagirathi group of Himalaya peaks Uttarakhand India.jpg|Bhagirathi Massif

File:Mount Bhagirathi.jpg|Bhagirathi Massif

File:Bhagirathi peaks and Chirvasa IMG 1021.jpg|Bhagirathi Massif from Chirvasa

File:Bhagirathi II and III (L-R) WTK IMG 0614 150917.jpg|Bhagirathi II and III (L-R)

File:Bhagirathi I Peak WTK20150917-IMG 0605.jpg|Bhagirathi III

</gallery>

==See also==
* [[List of Himalayan peaks of Uttarakhand]]
* [[Bhagiratha]]
* [[Gangotri National Park]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Mountains of Uttarakhand]]
[[Category:Geography of Chamoli district]]

Bhagirathi Massif - Revision history

HughStoate90988 at 21:33, 18 January 2026