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{{short description|Mountain in Anantnag district, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2018}}
{{Infobox mountain
| name = Kolahoi Peak
| photo = Mt.KOLAHOI (5425m) heighest peak of Kashmir Valley.jpg
| photo_caption = Kolahoi Peak
| elevation_m = 5425
| elevation_ref =
| prominence_m =
| prominence_ref =
| map = India Jammu and Kashmir
| map_caption =
| label_position = right
| listing =
| location = [[Kashmir valley]], [[India]]
| range = [[Himalaya]]
| coordinates = {{coord|34|9|52|N|75|19|37|E|type:mountain_region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_ref =
| range_coordinates =
| first_ascent = 1912 by Dr Ernest Neve, [[United Kingdom]]
| easiest_route = Aru [[Pahalgam]]
}}

'''Kolahoi Peak''' is the highest mountain with a peak elevation<ref>{{cite peakware|id=1275|name=Kolahoi|accessdate=2012-04-25}}</ref> of {{convert|5425|m|ft|disp=flip|abbr=in}}, in [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]], in the vicinity of [[Sonamarg]] in [[ganderbal district]]. Kolahoi Peak is part of the [[Himalaya]] [[Mountain Range|Range]], and is located between 15 km south of [[Sonamarg]] and 21 km north from [[Aru, Jammu and Kashmir|Aru, Pahalgam]]. To its north flows the [[Sind River]] and the glacier of its name [[Kolahoi Glacier]] is the source of [[Lidder River]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.koausa.org/Geography/ch1.5.html|title=Geography of Kashmir|publisher=kousa.org|access-date=2012-04-24}}</ref> in the vicinity of [[Kashmir valley]].

Kolahoi Peak rises from the Kolahoi Glacier is a pyramid-shaped peak with ice falls and ice fields at its bottom. The rock formation of the peak is extraordinary stable with aretes and ridges.<ref name=himalayanclub>{{Cite web|url=https://www.himalayanclub.org/hj/16/8/expeditions-16/|title=EXPEDITIONS : Himalayan Journal vol.16/8|website=www.himalayanclub.org|access-date=2019-01-28}}</ref>

==Climbing history and routes==
Kolahoi Peak was first climbed by a British medical team headed by Dr Ernest Neve in 1912.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.alpinejournal.org.uk/Contents/Contents_1990-91_files/AJ%201990%2050-53%20Comins%20Kolahoi.pdf |title=Kolahoi first climbed|publisher=Alpine Journal |access-date= 2012-04-25}}</ref>

The easiest route to climb Kolahoi Peak is south face<ref name=himalayanclub /> via Aru Pahalgam from which a 21 kilometers high altitude alpine trek leads to the glacier of the peak. From the rear side of Sonamarg leads a 15 kilometer trek via Sarbal Nallah to the summit, but one have to encounter the difficulties of ice falls from the glacier.

On 7 September 2018, a team of [[Mountaineering|Mountaineers]] consisting of Abdul Majeed Rather, Nisar Ahmad Ahangar, Adil Shah, Naveed Jelaani, etc were descending from this mountain after making a successful summit on September 6 2018 were hit by Rockfall Debris, killing Naveed Jelaani and Adil Shah.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/kashmir/kas-officer-among-2-feared-dead-in-kolahoi-glacier-accident/295688.html|title=KAS officer among 2 feared dead in Kolahoi glacier accident|publisher=greaterkashmir.com|access-date=2018-09-08|date=8 September 2018}}</ref> Adil Shah headed the "Alpine Adventurers".

== Kolahoi Glacier ==
{{Infobox glacier
| name = Kolhai Glacier
| photo = Kolahoi Glacier andMt.Kolahoi(5425m) North view -the highest mountain in Kashmir valley.JPG
| photo_caption = Kolhai Glacier
| type = Mountain glacier
| location = [[Himalaya Range]], [[Kashmir valley]], [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir, India]]
| coords = {{coord|34|10|20|N|75|20|10|E|type:glacier_region:IN|display=inline}}
| area =
| length = {{convert|5|km|mi|0}} in 1974
| thickness =
| terminus =
| status =
}}
''Kolahoi Glacier'' is a valley glacier in the northwestern [[Himalayan Range]] situated 26 kilometers north from [[Pahalgam]] and 16 kilometers south from [[Sonamarg]], in the [[union territory]] of [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]].

Kolahoi glacier lies at an average elevation of {{convert|4700|m}}. The highest peak named after the glacier is Kolahoi Peak has an elevation of 5425 meters. The origin of the glacier is below the [[cirque]]s on the north flank of Kolahoi Peak.<ref name=Ahmed/> It is the main source of [[Lidder River]] and its waters become the tributaries of the [[Jhelum River]]. Its water serves the population of [[Anantnag]] district, where it is mainly being used for drinking and agricultural purposes. The water finally discharges itself into [[Jhelum River]] near Khanabal [[Anantnag]].

Kolahoi Glacier is among the victims of [[global warming]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/03/100324-himalaya-glacier-melt-water/|title=Goddess glacier melting in war-torn Kashmir|publisher=national geographic.com|access-date=2012-04-24|date=26 March 2010}}</ref> and has shrunk in area<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.teriin.org/photo-story/kashmir-crown-kolahoi-glacier-deep-water|title=Kashmir's crown Kolahoi glacier is in deep water|publisher=TERI}}</ref> from 13.57 km2 in 1963 to 10.69 km2 in 2005 or a loss of 2.88 km2 in three decades.<ref name=Kanth>[http://recent-science.com/index.php/rrst/article/viewFile/8645/4404 Kanth, T.A., Aijaz Ahmad Shah and Zahoor ul Hassan; ''Geomorphologic Character & Receding Trend of Kolahoi Glacier in Kashmir Himalaya,'' Recent Research in Science and Technology 2011, 3(9): 68-73] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131211204551/http://recent-science.com/index.php/rrst/article/viewFile/8645/4404 |date=11 December 2013 }}, {{ISSN|2076-5061}}</ref> In 1974 the glacier was about 5 km long and is known to have extended for at least 35 km during the [[Pleistocene]].<ref name=Ahmed>{{cite journal | url = http://www.igsoc.org/journal.old/13/68/igs_journal_vol13_issue068_pg279-283.pdf | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131211170052/http://www.igsoc.org/journal.old/13/68/igs_journal_vol13_issue068_pg279-283.pdf | url-status = dead | archive-date = 2013-12-11 | title = Glacial History of Kolahoi Glacier, Kashmir, India | author = N. Ahmed and N. H. Hashimi | journal = Journal of Glaciology | volume = 13 | issue = 68 | pages = 279–283 | year = 1974 | access-date = 2012-04-16 | bibcode = 1974JGlac..13..279A | doi = 10.1017/S002214300002308X | doi-access = free }}</ref> A detailed analysis by Rafiq and Mishra<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Rafiq|first=Mohammd|last2=Mishra|first2=Anoop|date=2016-11-25|title=Investigating changes in Himalayan glacier in warming environment: a case study of Kolahoi glacier|journal=Environmental Earth Sciences|volume=75|issue=23|doi=10.1007/s12665-016-6282-1|issn=1866-6280}}</ref> reported that the glacier has shrunk from 35 to 09.88 Sq Km. The rate of recession measured from 1922 to 2015 is reported to be 73.26 m per year. Furthermore, the rate of recession of snout is found to be 16.41 m per year from 1857 to 2015. The shirking of glacier area is linked to reduction in snow depth which in turn is affected by the increase in black carbon concentration, temperature and reduction in precipitation. Reanalysis data show that there is decrease of about 1.08 ± 0.65 cm per decade in snow depth over Kolahoi glacier during 1979 to 2013. There are decadal increasing trends of about 76 nanogram/m2 (statistically significant) and 0.39 °C (insignificant) in black carbon concentration and temperature, respectively, over Kolahoi. A decreasing trend of about 2.9 mm/month per decade in precipitation over the study area is also reported. It is reported that there is decrease of about 71 ± 24% in snow depth for each degree increase in temperature over Kolahoi.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Mishra|first=Anoop Kumar|last2=Rafiq|first2=Mohammd|date=September 2017|title=Analyzing snowfall variability over two locations in Kashmir, India in the context of warming climate|journal=Dynamics of Atmospheres and Oceans|volume=79|pages=1–9|doi=10.1016/j.dynatmoce.2017.05.002|issn=0377-0265|bibcode=2017DyAtO..79....1M}}</ref> Reduction in snow depth as a result of increase in black carbon concentration, temperature and reduction in precipitation might have resulted in the shrinking of the Kolahoi glacier. According to another report,<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.hoparoundindia.com/jammu-and-kashmir/pahalgam-attractions/kolahoi-glacier.aspx|title=Kolahoi: Hanging and hollowed inside|publisher=hoparoundindia.com|access-date=2012-04-27}}</ref> Kolahoi is a hanging glacier and hollowed inside. It is a matter of great concern for [[Kashmir Valley]]. Many expeditions have failed here.

In September 2018 a group of nine trekkers went on an expedition to summit the Kolahoi Peak. After successfully summiting the peak, the group was caught in [[rock fall]] near Burdalaw region on the glacier during their descent, due to which team lost two of its members: Adil Shah, founder of Alpine Adventures group and Naveed Jeelani who was a junior administrative officer from [[Srinagar]]. Their bodies were later retrieved from the glacier after two days due to bad weather.
==See also==

* [[Sonamarg]]
* [[Gulmarg]]
* [[Pahalgam]]
* [[Yusmarg]]
* [[Kukernag]]
* [[Gangabal]]
* [[Aharabal]]
* [[Kolahoi Peak]]
* [[Hirpora Wildlife Sanctuary]]
<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/op-ed/his-life-would-come-to-an-end-on-the-alpines-he-had-become-synonymous-with/296543.html|title=Kolahoi: His life would come to an end on the alpines he had become synonymous with. |publisher=Mahmood A. Shah|access-date=2018-09-25|date=16 September 2018 }}</ref>

== References ==
<references />

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Mountains of Jammu and Kashmir]]
[[Category:Anantnag district]]
[[Category:Five-thousanders of the Himalayas]]

Kolahoi Peak - Revision history

CleanupBot II at 09:03, 14 August 2023