chomolungma

During the Sagarmatha Sambaad in Nepal, China's Vice Chairman Xiao Jie repeatedly referred to Mount Everest as "chomolungma," the Chinese name, while other participants used English and Nepali designations. Despite Prime Minister Oli's advocacy for "Sagarmatha," he remained silent on Xiao Jie's terminology. The event, attended by international delegations and organizations, highlighted differing perspectives on the iconic peak's naming.

As the world celebrates the 70th anniversary of the conquest of Mount Everest on May 29, 1953, by Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay — the youngest son of the legendary Sherpa talks about why the deaths resulting in scaling the world’s highest mountain is a "man-made crisis"

There can, in the end, be no frontier far enough for man. Mountaineers in search of records and gratification have stared death in the face at K2 and Annapurna, climbed the top peaks, done the 14 eight-thousanders and have trekked to the poles. There is no pleasure like taming one more monster.

Mount Everest, known as chomolungma and Sagarmatha, stands at 29,032 feet and continues to grow slightly each year. Researchers have discovered that a river merger 89,000 years ago significantly contributed to its additional height. The Himalayas will continue to shift over time.

Everest has courted controversies, created heroes and villains. India, China and Nepal vie not only for the ownership of the peak, but also for the gallant men who scale it.

Looking back, when I touched down at the Lukla airport - carved out on a mountain face - after a 25-minute nerve-jangling flight from Kathmandu , I had little idea how rigorous, but rewarding, the journey ahead will be.

MUMBAI: For all his muchvaunted poetic prowess, Kalidasa reduced the Himalayas to a practical metaphor that one would expect from a frost-bitten climber. In his epic 'Kumarasambhava', the poet referred to this King of Mountains as “a measuring rod for the earth''.

Indian mathematician and surveyor Radhanath Sikdar was probably the first person to identify that Mount Everest (then known as peak XV) was the world's highest peak as he was the first person to calculate the height of the mountain.

Mount Everest's increasing height is attributed to the isostatic rebound caused by the merger of the Kosi and Arun rivers about 89,000 years ago. According to their estimates, isostatic rebound is responsible for approximately 10% of the yearly uplift rate of Everest. Isostatic rebound is a geological phenomenon that is not limited to the Himalayan region.

Researchers says two river merged some 89,000 years ago and have the mightiest peak in the Himalayas a huge growth spurt

Majestic mountains, particularly the "eight-thousanders" of the Himalaya and Karakoram, symbolize nature's might and human ambition. Peaks like Everest and K2, renowned for their immense heights, beckon adventurers. These colossal natural formations are more than just geological marvels; they embody resilience, intrigue, and the enduring drive for discovery, captivating explorers and dreamers globally.

Fifty-five years after Hillary & Tenzing reached its summit, expeditions to Mt Everest have seen many changes, but conquering the peak still remains the ultimate high for mountaineers.

Since time immemorial, the magic and charm of Everest have remained intact. The Tibetans worship it as chomolungma (mother goddess) while the Nepalese revere it as Sagarmatha (head of the sky).