Mountains are always majestic and charming things, especially the tallest mountains are such beautiful that one can be blessed enough to witness in their lifetime. I actually don’t know the environmental fact, but truly it’s quite amazing that all of these highest mountains are located. Again each of them reaches an altitude of over eight thousand meters in height.
As a matter of fact, we want to inform you that there are only fourteen mountains in the world that can boast such a great height. Here, when concerning only ten of those great heights, we are absolutely neutrally bringing the major mountain ranges according to their world acclaimed heights.
Hopefully, we already have enough learned that Mount Everest is the tallest of them all. But maybe we don’t actually know the other contenders. It has been always a common interest for people to become acknowledged of these majestic natural tourist attractions around the globe.
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Major Mountain Ranges | Highest Mountains
As we are trying to serve our interested traveler friends, here we enlist ten of those heights. Obviously, you can plan for a tour around these great natural monuments, but be sure to plan a different schedule for visiting each of these great mountains.
So, let’s check out – what is the highest mountain in the world?
10. Annapurna, Nepal
Annapurna is actually a section of the Himalayas mountain range in north-central Nepal. More specifically this is a series of peaks. And Annapurna is the highest peak of this series. It is approximately 26,545 feet in height (8,091 in meters).
I think many of you have already heard about, how dangerous to climb some of its peaks. Hopefully, the average 40 percent fatality rate will not be enough to discourage the true adventurists. Besides, who want to miss the tremendous beautiful landscapes of Nepal.
Major attractions:
- Annapurna Dhaulagiri Panorama Trek
- Annapurna Circuit Trek
- Tsume Valley Trekking
- Annapurna Poon Hill Trek
- Annapurna Conservation Area
09. Nanga Parbat, Pakistan
The ninth tallest mountain in the world is Nanga Parbat. The name actually originated from Urdu language and it means “Naked Mountain”. Maybe the visitors will have the answer, why this great mountain is termed such a funny name. Again, for the first half of the twentieth century, it was known as “Killer Mountain”. This is probably a reasonable cause we can easily figure out. Of course, it was called this because it used to be incredibly dangerous to climb to the top.
Some travelers often refer this mountain currently less dangerous to climb. But my opinion, it’s still very difficult! The 26,660 feet (8,126 meters) height easily fits it at ninth position of our list. This is the immense and dramatic mountain peak that rises above its surrounding area in Pakistan.
Major attractions:
- Don’t miss the extraordinary beautiful & dangerous track
- Fairy Meadows & Beyal Camp
08. Manaslu, Nepal
Another great mountain that is located near Nepal, more specifically part of the Nepalese Himalayas, in the west-central part of Nepal. The name, Manaslu means “Mountain of the Spirit”, also related to its residents, ‘Mansiri Himal‘. If you are further curious about its name, the word comes from the Sanskrit word Manasa, meaning “intellect” or “soul”. The mountain was first climbed on May 9, 1956, by Toshio Imanishi and Gyalzen Norbu. They were some proud members of a Japanese expedition.
There has been a common saying about this mountain. It is often said, “Just as the British consider Everest their mountain, Manaslu has always been a Japanese mountain” and it stands at about 26,759 feet (8,156 meters) high. The long ridges and valley glaciers offer feasible approaches from all directions of the great long mountain range.
Major attractions:
- Manaslu Circuit Trek
- Try to reside at Gorkha town
- Manaslu Tsum Valley Trekking
- Visit the Manaslu Base Camp
- Kanchenjunga Trek
07. Dhaulagiri, Nepal
Oh yes, again Nepal. Dhaulagiri is about 26,795 feet (8,167 meters) tall. For around thirty years, Dhaulagiri was believed to be the highest mountain in the world. Maybe the amazing sight from the tallest structure was responsible for the acceptance. The mountain is located just north of central Nepal. Interestingly, Dhaulagiri means “White Mountain” in the local language.
The South and West faces of Dhaulagiri both feature massive drops. Both of them rise over 4000 meters from its base, probably some the most epic climbs for such tall mountains. The local people consider these two mountains (Annapurna and Dhaulagiri) home to a more dramatic scene than most of the other mountains.
Major attractions:
- Boudhanath Stupa
- Muktinath Temple
- Pashupati Nath
- Explore the Bhaktapur Durbar Square
- Visit the Changu Narayan
06. Cho Oyu, Tibet
Here comes the first Tibetan mountain which is measured 8,201 meters (26,906 ft) above the sea level. The Tibetan name means “Turquoise Goddess”. The mountain is the westernmost major peak of the Khumbu sub-section of the Mahalangur Himalaya, located 20 km west of Mount Everest.
To be specific, the great mountain lies between Nepal and China (Tibet). For long decades it was considered as the warm-up for climbing Mount Everest. But truly speaking, nowadays it has become one of the easiest to climb of all the “eight-thousander” mountains in the world.
Major attractions:
- Milarepa Meditation Cave
- Mangpu Hot Spring
- Rongbuk Monastery
- Rongpuk Glacier
05. Makalu, China
Maybe the region between Nepal and China is too much for such tallest mountains. Makalu is the second one here and with 8,481 meters (27,825 ft), it is located 19 km southeast of Mount Everest. Makalu is the only one among the eight thousand mountains that is an isolated peak. It also has a unique shape of a four-sided pyramid. But don’t get mistaken by a table top mountain.
There is another subsidiary peak, known commonly as Kangchungtse or Makalu II. This peak lies northeast of the main summit and is connected to it by an arrow saddle, which is called Chomo Lonzo.
Major attractions:
- Kathmandu Durbar Square
- Makalu Base camp
- visit the local villages – Ani Bhanjyang, seduwa, Nehe Kharka, and sherson
- Makalu Barun National Park
04. Lhotse, China-Nepal Boarder
Lhotse is connected to Everest via the South Col. The Tibetan word means “South Peak”. Of course, Mount Everest gets priority here too. In addition to the main summit at 8,516 meters (27,940 ft) above sea level, Lhotse Middle (East) is 8,414 meters (27,605 ft) and Lhotse Shar is 8,383 meters (27,503 ft). The actual location of the mountain is at the border between Tibet (China) and the Khumbu region of Nepal.
This mountain is best known for its close proximity to Everest. But it also has its own special features – it is the home of the steepest face of a mountain that is approximately 1.98×1.4 miles in size. Some notable fatalities and very few successful summits reach lies at the southern face.
03. Kangchenjunga, India-Nepal
Kangchenjunga has an elevation of 8,586 meters (28,169 ft). Mount Kanchenjunga rises about 20 km (12 mi) south of the general alignment of the Great Himalayan range. This time the border is between Nepal and the Indian state of Sikkim.
Undoubtedly Kangchenjunga is the highest peak in India. The local meaning refers to as – “The Five Treasures of Snows”. The treasures represent the five repositories of God, which are gold, silver, gems, grain, and holy books.
This mountain is sacred to Kirant religion. Probably that’s the cause behind the first expedition to the summit occurred in 1955. A tradition which most teams that have successfully reached the summit have honorably followed.
Major attractions:
- Tiger Hill
- Himalayan Mountaineering Institute
- Visit the Everest Museum
- Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park
- Don’t miss the majestic tea gardens
02. K2, Pakistan-China
Now it is time, we can change our descriptive language. K2 is the second-highest mountain range on Earth, after Mount Everest. The mountain is located on the border between Baltistan, in the Gilgit–Baltistan region of Pakistan, and the Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County of Xinjiang, China. It has a peak elevation of 8,611 m (28,251 feet). Mount K2 is considered the highest point of the Karakoram Range and the highest point in Pakistan.
Oh yes, some people call it the “Savage Mountain” due to the difficulty of ascent. Proudly the mountain holds the second highest fatality rate among the eight thousand other mountains. Surprisingly the rate can explain – for every four people who have reached the summit, one does not live to see the bottom again.
Major attractions:
- Very popular trekking route, Abruzzi Spur
- The Northeast Ridge
01. Mount Everest, Nepal-Tibet
Here is the canopy of the world, or in other words the tallest of them all. Mount Everest, with a peak of around 8,848 meters, which is 29,029 in feet above the sea level is the answer to the question – what is the highest mountain in the world?
Here is an interesting information – this is actually the 5th tallest mountain measured from the center of the Earth. The mountain is located on the border between Sagarmatha Zone, Nepal, and Tibet, China. Of course, it is a part of the Himalayan Mountain Range and more specifically the highest peak of the range.
Although it attracts many climbers, the fact is – it is one of the easier mountains to climb. But don’t be mistaken by what we mean by easier. As there is still the danger posed by weather changes, winds, temperature, and altitude sickness. Maybe the terrain is a lot more simple to take than some of the other tallest mountains, but you can’t but remember that you are climbing the top of the major mountain ranges in the world.
Major attractions:
- Tenzing Hillary Airport
- Namche Bazaar
- Tengboche Monastery
- Everest Base Camp and Kala Patthar