Camorabug at 10:37, 16 February 2026

2026-02-16T10:37:17Z

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{{short description|Mountain in Jammu and Kashmir, India}}
{{EngvarB|date=March 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2026}}
{{Infobox mountain
| name = Harmukh
| photo = Harmukh Mountain.jpg
| photo_caption = Harmukh
| elevation_ft = 17388
| elevation_ref = <ref name="peaklist">{{cite web |url=http://peaklist.org/WWlists/ultras/karakoram.html |title=The Karakoram, Pakistan Himalaya and India Himalaya (north of Nepal) - 68 Mountain Summits with Prominence of 1,500 meters or greater |website=eaklist.org |access-date=3 May 2013 |archive-date=24 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924070238/http://www.peaklist.org/WWlists/ultras/karakoram.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
| prominence_ft = 4797
| prominence_ref = <ref name="peaklist"/>
| range = [[Himalayas]]
| parent_peak =
| listing =
| country = India
| region_type = [[Union territory|Territory]]
| region = [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]]
| district_type =
| district = [[Ganderbal district]]
| map = India Jammu and Kashmir#India
| map_caption = Harmukh on a map of Jammu and Kashmir, India
| label_position = right
| coordinates = {{coord|34|24|14|N|74|54|7|E|type:mountain_region:IN_scale:100000|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_ref = <ref name="peaklist"/>
| first_ascent = 1899 by [[Ernest Frederic Neve|Dr Ernest Neve]] and [[Geoffrey Millais]], United Kingdom<ref name="Himalayan Club">{{Cite web |title=The HJ/12/10 Memories of Early Kashmir Climbing |url=https://www.himalayanclub.org/hj/ |access-date=22 March 2022 |website=The Himalayan Journal |language=en |archive-date=27 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240327025245/https://www.himalayanclub.org/hj/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
| easiest_route = Arin, [[Bandipore]]
}}

'''Mount Harmukh''' or '''Haramukh''' is a mountain in the [[Himalayas]] of [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]] in India.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.himalayanwonders.com/content/peaks/harmukh.html?selocation=IN#:~:text=Harmukh%20is%20a%20mountain%20with,the%20vicinity%20of%20Kashmir%20valley. |title=Harmukh Mountain |website=Himalayan Wonders |access-date=13 August 2024 }}</ref> Harmukh has a peak elevation of {{convert|5300|m|ft|0}}, and is located in [[Ganderbal district]], between the [[Sind River]] to the south and [[Kishanganga River]] to the north, rising above [[Gangabal Lake]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.koausa.org/Geography/ch1.5.html |title=Geography of Kashmir |website=kousa.org |access-date=24 April 2012 |archive-date=30 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121030215230/http://www.koausa.org/Geography/ch1.5.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> in the vicinity of [[Kashmir Valley]]. It is mostly climbed from the northwestern side of Arin, via Kudara, [[Bandipore]].<ref name="Himalayan Club" /> Harmukh is considered sacred in [[Hinduism]].

==Etymology==
Harmukh derives from Haramukuta, meaning "the diadem of Hara (Shiva)".

The entire region of Harmukh is also known as ''Ramaradhan'', as it is believed that [[Parashurama]] had meditated near lakes on this mountain range.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Excelsior |first=Daily |date=17 August 2012 |title=Sacred Shrines of Haramukh |language=en-US |url=https://www.dailyexcelsior.com/sacred-shrines-of-haramukh/ |access-date=15 May 2021 |archive-date=15 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210515141049/https://www.dailyexcelsior.com/sacred-shrines-of-haramukh/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
[[File:Harmukh Peak, Kashmir.jpg|thumb|left|300px|Mount Harmukh's summit]]

==Religious beliefs==
Harmukh, with Gangbal Lake at its foot, is considered a sacred mountain by [[Hindus]]. It is also known as 'Kailash of Kashmir'.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://vedabase.net/sb/5/25/1/en |title=Bhag-P 5.25.1 |access-date=24 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320094105/http://vedabase.net/sb/5/25/1/en |archive-date=20 March 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> According to the legend of "Hurmukhuk Gosoni",<ref name="profSadhu">{{Cite web |url=http://www.koausa.org/Crown/marvels.html |title=Some Marvels of Kashmir |access-date=9 May 2011 |archive-date=9 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130509155818/http://koausa.org/crown/marvels.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> once a hermit tried to reach the summit of Harmukh to see Shiva face to face. For twelve long years, he tried to scale the summit but failed until one day he saw a Gujar descending the summit. When the Gujar approached him, the hermit enquired as to what he had seen there. The Gujar said he had been searching for a stray goat, and that while searching he saw a couple milking a cow and drinking the milk from a human skull. The couple had offered him some milk, which he refused to drink; when they departed they rubbed a little of the milk on his forehead. When the Gujar indicated the spot where the milk was rubbed, the hermit was extremely joyful and rushed to lick his forehead.{{citation needed|date=March 2023}}

== Harmukh Gangbal Yatra ==
[[File:Shiva shrine, Gangabal Lake.jpg|thumb|left|Shiva shrine at the [[Gangabal Lake]], where the Harmukh Gangabal Yatra culminates]]
This pilgrimage takes place every year on the eve of Ganga Ashtami. The yatris begin their yatra from [[Naranag]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=Gangabal yatra |work=Daily Excelsior |url=https://www.dailyexcelsior.com/gangabal-yatra/ |access-date=1 October 2020 |archive-date=23 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190823234721/https://www.dailyexcelsior.com/gangabal-yatra/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Geographical setting==
[[ File:Gulmarg Gondola, Cable Car.JPG|thumb|Photo taken from cable car in [[Gulmarg]] showing Haramukh towering above the [[Great Himalayan range]] in the distance]]
Harmukh lies in the northwestern [[Himalayan Range]]. The [[Kashmir Valley]] lies to its south. Water from melting glaciers form [[Gangabal Lake]] which lies at its foot to the north east side and contribute significantly to the regional fresh-water supply, supporting irrigation through [[Sind River]]. It is notable for its local relief as it is a consistently steep pyramid, dropping sharply to the east and south, with the eastern slope the steepest.

==Climbing history==
The Harmukh mountain massif has several summits, the Station Peak being the lowest with a peak elevation of {{Convert|4698|m|ft}} was first climbed by members of the [[Great Trigonometric Survey]] of [[British Raj|British India]] led by [[Thomas George Montgomerie|Thomas Montgomerie]] in 1856. Montgomerie made the first survey of the [[Karakoram]] range which lies some {{convert|130|mi|km|disp=flip|abbr=in}} to the north from here and sketched the two most prominent peaks, labeling them K1 (also called [[Masherbrum]]) and K2, which is the world's second-highest mountain.<ref>{{cite book |title=K2: The Story of the Savage Mountain |last=Curran |first=Jim |year=1995 |publisher=Hodder & Stoughton |isbn=978-0340660072 |page=25 }}</ref><ref name="Harmukh">{{cite book |author=Robert Hicks Bates |title=Five miles high: the story of an attack on second highest mountain in the world |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=biobAAAAIAAJ&q=mount+haramukh |access-date=2 July 2012 |year=1939 |publisher=Dodd, Mead & company, 1939 |page=25– }}</ref> The highest eastern peak {{Convert|5142|m|ft}} was summited by [[Ernest Frederic Neve|Dr Ernest Neve]] and [[Geoffrey Millais]] in 1899.<ref name="Himalayan Club"/> The mountain has since become popular among climbers and mountaineers.

==Climbing routes==
The easiest route among the different routes of Harmukh is via Erin, [[Bandipore]],<ref name="Arin">{{cite book |author=M.S. Kohli |title=The Himalayas: Play Ground of the Gods Trekking, Climbing, Adventure |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=L4knycWWbqgC&q=arin+harmukh+mountain&pg=PA40 |access-date=2 July 2012 |year=1983 |publisher=Indus Publishing, 1983 |isbn=9788173871078 |page=40– }}</ref> {{cvt|47|km}} motorable road from [[Srinagar]] to Erin and {{cvt|18|km}} of high altitude alpine trek leads to the base of Harmukh. Another trek leads from [[Naranag, Jammu and Kashmir|Naranag]]<ref name="Naranag">{{cite book |author=Parvez Dewan |title=Parvéz Dewân's Jammû, Kashmîr, and Ladâkh: Kashmîr |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fF0wAQAAIAAJ&q=naranag+harmukh |access-date=2 July 2012 |year=2004 |publisher=Manas Publications, 2004 |isbn=9788170491798 |page=260– }}</ref> to the base of Harmukh at [[Gangabal Lake]], but it is a steep climb at some places.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.kashmirtreks.com/naranag-gangabal-trek/ |title=Gangbal Lake Trek |publisher=KashmirTreks.com |access-date=24 October 2013 |archive-date=3 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803182053/https://www.kashmirtreks.com/naranag-gangabal-trek/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{cite peakware |id=2141 |name=Harmukh}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Mountains of Jammu and Kashmir]]
[[Category:Geography of Ganderbal district]]
[[Category:Five-thousanders of the Himalayas]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Ganderbal district]]

Harmukh - Revision history

Camorabug at 10:37, 16 February 2026