>John of Reading at 08:13, 14 September 2021

2021-09-14T08:13:15Z

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{{Short description|Hill on the border of India and China}}
{{distinguish|text=the eponymous mountain near [[Annapurna]] in Nepal}}
{{Infobox mountain
| name = Gurung Hill
| other_name =
| photo =
| photo_size =
| photo_alt =
| photo_caption =
| elevation = {{convert|5450|m|ft}}
| elevation_ref =
| range =
| location = [[Aksai Chin]]
| map = India Ladakh#Tibet
| map_caption =
| map_relief = 0
| label =
| range_coordinates =
| coordinates = {{Coord|33.611617|N|78.753090|E|type:mountain_region:IN}}
| coordinates_ref =
}}
[[File:Ladakh LAC Landmarks (cropped).jpg|thumb|350x350px|Location of Gurung Hill. Black Top, Table Top, Camel's Back, Yula, Spanggur Gap and Magar Hill visible.]]
'''Gurung Hill''' is a mountain near the [[Line of Actual Control]] between the Indian- and Chinese-administered portions of Ladakh near the village of [[Chushul]] and the [[Spanggur Lake]]. As of 2020, the Line of Actual Control runs on the north–south ridgeline of Gurung Hill. To the west of Gurung lies the Chushul valley (or 'Chushul Bown') and to the right of it are mountains of [[Kailash Range]] forming the basins of the Spanggur Lake and the [[Pangong Lake]] in this area.<ref>[https://theprint.in/opinion/why-indian-troops-secured-kailash-range-crestline-and-the-importance-of-chushul-bowl/499469/ Why Indian troops secured Kailash Range crestline, and the importance of Chushul Bowl], The Print, 10 September 2020.</ref>

During the 1962 [[Sino-Indian War]], a battle was fought at Gurung Hill, which resulted in a victory for the Chinese forces.<ref name=Thapliyal>{{cite news |last=Thapliyal|title=Battle of Eastern Ladakh : 1962 Sino-Indian Conflict|url=https://usiofindia.org/publication/usi-journal/battle-of-eastern-ladakh-1962-sino-indian-conflict-2/ |newspaper=USI Journal |date=April 2005 |publisher=The United Service Institution of India}}</ref>

==Geography==
The Gurung Hill is one of the mountains on the watershed mountain range between the Tsaka Chu river and the Spanggur Lake. The Chinese delegation at the [[Sino-Indian border dispute|1960 border talks]] between China and India claimed this range as China's 'traditional customary boundary', whereas India claimed a boundary further east, cutting across the Spanggur Lake. During the 1962 [[Sino-Indian War]], pitched battles were fought along this range and, in the end, China's claim line was enforced. It is now the [[Line of Actual Control]] between the two countries.

Gurung Hill on the north and the Maggar Hill on the south flank a wide gap in the mountains called the [[Spanggur Gap]]. The gap leads to the Spanggur Lake in the east and the town of [[Rutog Town|Rutog]] beyond.

Gurung Hill has an inverted C-shaped ridge line. The southern wing of the ridge which flanks the Spanggur gap has a few relatively flat sections, the lowest of which is referred to as the 'Camel's Back'
{{efn| '''Camel's Back''' coordinate: {{coord|33.59|N|78.74|E||display=inline}} }}
by the Indian Army. A middle section of the ridge is termed the 'Table Top' ({{lang-zh|桌頂 }})
{{efn| '''Table Top ({{lang-zh|桌頂 }})''' coordinate: {{coord|33.604|N|78.745|E||display=inline}} }} and the top of the ridge the 'Bump' (Point 5524.5)
{{efn| '''Bump (Point 5524.5)''' coordinate: {{coord|33.6225|N|78.758|E||display=inline}} }}
. The ridge rises from the valley floor at {{convert|4300|m|ft}} to a height of {{convert|5450|m|ft}}.

A branch of the ridge runs east from the 'Bump' and extends to some miles. It carries a strategic pass termed the 'Quidijiankela Pass' {{efn| '''Quidijiankela Pass ({{lang-zh|秋迪儉革拉山口}})''' coordinate: {{coord|33|37|39|N|78|47|17|E||display=inline}}}} by the Chinese. In between the 'Bump' and the pass is the highest peak in the region, termed the '''Black Top''' by the Indian Army ({{lang-zh|t=黑頂|p=Hēi dǐng}}),<ref>
Col. Vinayak Bhat, [https://www.indiatoday.in/news-analysis/story/lac-ladakh-standoff-china-attempts-to-change-name-of-black-top-1720174-2020-09-09 After drubbing from India, China attempts to change name of Black Top], India Today, 9 September 2020.
</ref>{{efn|'''Black Top (Point 5684.6, {{lang-zh|t=黑頂|p=Hēi dǐng}})''' coordinate: {{coord|33.6225|N|78.7755|E||display=inline}}}} at an elevation of {{convert|5680|m|ft}}.

The Gurung Hill ends in the north at a peak called 'Point 5167'.{{efn|'''Point 5167''' coordinate: {{coord|33.6225|N|78.7175|E||display=inline}}}} The recognised Line of Actual Control runs northeast from here to the middle of the [[Phursook Bay]] along a ridge termed 'Helmet'.{{efn|'''Helmet''' coordinate: {{coord|33.645|N|78.726|E||display=inline}}}}<ref>
[https://earthworks.stanford.edu/catalog/stanford-jd523yw3613 Large Scale International Boundaries (LSIB), Europe and Asia, 2012], earthworks.stanford.edu, Stanford University.
</ref><ref>
Abishek Bhalla, [https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/indian-army-control-hilltops-south-bank-pangong-lake-china-1717411-2020-09-01 Indian Army's control of hilltops on south bank of Pangong Lake irks China], India Today, 1 September 2020.
</ref>

== History ==
=== Ladakh boundary definition ===
{{expand section|date=September 2020}}

=== 1962 Battle of Gurung Hill ===
Gurung Hill was at the center of a network of Indian posts at Black Top, Table Top, Camel's Back, Yula, Spanggur Gap and Magar Hill.{{citation needed|date=September 2020}} Neighbouring it to the east is Black Top, which is a continuation of Gurung Hill,<ref>{{citation|last=Malhotra|first=A.|title=Trishul: Ladakh and Kargil 1947-1993|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rWKy6DOTO9YC|pages=64|year=2003|publisher=Lancer Publishers|isbn=978-81-7062-296-3}}{{page needed|date=June 2020}}</ref> and which got its name from its black rocks.<ref>{{cite book|last=Singh|first=Jagjit|title=While Memory is Fresh|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oRbOTtywoO0C |publisher=Lancer Publishers |year=2006}}{{page needed|date=June 2020}}</ref> The portion of Gurung Hill adjoining Black Top is flat and is called Table Top or Plateau. The rest of the hill is called Camel's Back. To the east of Black Top is the Yula pass, where India had three posts.<ref name=Thapliyal /> By 22 October, the Chinese were firing on Yula, and troops were withdrawn from Yula. To the south of Gurung Hill is the [[Spanggur Gap]], and across it, Magar Hill, both of which were held by India.<ref name=Thapliyal /> Chinese troops attacked Gurung Hill and Magar Hill, and conquered Plateau on 18 November 1962 and Camel's Back the next day. The forces at Magar Hill were withdrawn on the night of 19 November.<ref name=Thapliyal />

=== 2020 border standoff ===
During the [[2020 China–India skirmishes|border standoff]] in summer–autumn 2020, the Indian Army said that the [[People's Liberation Army|PLA]] made provocative military moves in the Chushul sector and it was moved to preempt them. On the night of 29/30 it occupied several heights around the Chinese-administered area, including the Gurung Hill.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Singh |first=Rahul |title=Forget disengagement, China opens new front along LAC |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/forget-disengagement-china-opens-new-front-along-lac/story-cu2n1gHjqDR97Nh733UGsN.html |website=Hindustan Times |date=2020-08-31}}
</ref><ref>
{{Cite web |last=Pandit |first=Rajat |title=India China border news: Fresh clashes between Indian, Chinese troops at Pangong Tso |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/lac-face-off-fresh-clashes-between-india-china-troops-at-pangong-tso/articleshow/77845818.cms |website=The Times of India |date=31 August 2020}}
</ref><ref name="Chushul Hindu">
{{Cite news |last1=Peri |first1=Dinakar |last2=Krishnan |first2=Ananth |date=31 August 2020 |title=Thwarted aggressive moves by China at South Bank of Pangong Tso: Army |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/thwarted-aggressive-moves-at-pangong-tso-by-china-army/article32484526.ece?homepage=true |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200831134737/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/thwarted-aggressive-moves-at-pangong-tso-by-china-army/article32484526.ece?homepage=true |archive-date=31 August 2020 |access-date=31 August 2020 |website=The Hindu }}
</ref><ref name="Chaturvedi">
{{cite news |last1=Chaturvedi |first1=Amit |title='Provocative': India lashes out at new Chinese attempt to alter status quo near Pangong Tso |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/china-s-pla-troops-carry-out-provocative-military-movements-near-pangong-tso-to-change-status-quo-says-army/story-603TodUqMIEFpQKrMlHi7I.html |work=The Hindustan Times |date=31 August 2020}}
</ref><ref name=":57">
{{cite news |last1=Dutta |first1=Amrita Nayak |title=Army now holding 30 dominating heights, earlier unoccupied, on southern bank of Pangong Tso |url=https://theprint.in/defence/army-now-holding-30-dominating-heights-earlier-unoccupied-on-southern-bank-of-pangong-tso/495077/ |work=ThePrint |date=3 September 2020}}
</ref>
It was also reported that around 100 Chinese soldiers were seen below the 'Black Top' hill. However, no physical clash was reported and the Indian Army repositioned its troops in the area as a precaution to prevent any future intrusion by the PLA.<ref name="Chushul Hindu"/>
There were sporadic media reports of the Indian Army also taking control of the Black Top hill but these were denied by the Indian government sources<ref>[https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/india-will-retaliate-if-its-defences-on-heights-are-breached-top-sources-2292908?pfrom=home-topscroll "Any Trajectory" Possible In India-China Stand-Off, Talks Critical: Sources], NDTV, 10 September 2020.</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Phursook Bay]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* {{citation |last=Cheema |first=Brig Amar |title=The Crimson Chinar: The Kashmir Conflict: A Politico Military Perspective |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Qc25BwAAQBAJ&pg=PA51 |date=2015 |publisher=Lancer Publishers |ISBN=978-81-7062-301-4 |pages=51– |ref={{sfnref|Cheema, Crimson Chinar|2015}}}}
* {{citation |last=Malhotra |first=A. |title=Trishul: Ladakh and Kargil 1947-1993 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rWKy6DOTO9YC |year=2003 |publisher=Lancer Publishers |isbn=978-81-7062-296-3 |ref={{sfnref|Malhotra, Trishul: Ladakh and Kargil|2003}}}}

[[Category:Mountains of Jammu and Kashmir]]
[[Category:Mountains of Tibet]]
[[Category:Borders of Ladakh]]
[[Category:Rutog County]]

Gurung Hill - Revision history

>John of Reading at 08:13, 14 September 2021