Do you know any interesting facts about Shivling, Garhwal Himalaya?
Shivling is part of the Gangotri Group of peaks in the western Garhwal Himalaya in India. Situated at the head of the Gongotri Glacier, Shivling boasts twin summits that will take your breath away. Shivling may not be the tallest mountain, but its sheer beauty certainly makes it a coveted Himalayan mountaineering prize.

Shivling Quick Facts:
- Elevation: 21,467 feet | 6543 meters
- Prominence: 2,790 feet | 850 meters
- Isolation: 0.42 miles | 0.68 kilometers
- Lat/Long: 30.88, 79.012
- Range: Garhwal Himalaya
- First Ascent:1974: Hukam Singh, Ang Tharhay, Pemba Tharkay, Laxman Singh, Pasang Sherpa
- Weather Forecast: Shivling, Garhwal Himalaya

Let’s look at some interesting facts about Shivling, Garhwal Himalaya:
- The name Shivling refers to Shiva Linga – a symbol of the Hindu deity, Shiva.
- The mountain is also known as Mahadeo Ka Linga.
- Shivling is part of the Gongotri Group of peaks that includes mountains like Bhagirathi, Thalay Sagar, and Meru.
- Shivling has two twin summits. The northeast summit is higher than the southwest summit.
- Shivling drains into the Ganges, the Bay of Bengal, and Indian Ocean.
- This stunning mountain is often referred to as the “Indian Matterhorn” or the “Matterhorn of the Himalaya.”
- Shivling is located just 6 kilometers from the Hindu holy site of Gaumukh, which is the source of the Bhagirathi River.

Let’s look at some climbing history onShivling, Garhwal Himalaya:
- A 1938 German expedition explored the mountain and deemed it impossible to climb.
Shivling was first climbed via the west ridge by a Hindu-Tibetan Team on Nine 3, 1974. The climbers included Hukam Singh, Ang Tharhay, Pemba Tharkay, Laxman Singh, Pasang Sherpa. - In 2004, 19-year-old Shirshendu Mukherjee became youngest person to climb Shivling.
- At least 10 different climbing routes have been completed on both ridges and faces of Shivling. Perhaps the most notable climbs on Shivling include:
- 1980: Japanese Route by Fujita, Yamamoto, & Kubo
- 1983: FA of West Summit of Shivling (6501m) by Bonington & Fotheringham
- 1993: North Pillar first climbed by Christoph Hainz and Hans Kammerlander
- 2000: Shiva’s Line climbed by Thomas Huber and Iwan Wolf – an ascent that won the Piolet d’ Or.
- 2017: Shiva’s Ice by Simon Gietl and Vittorio Messini
Find Shivling, Garhwal Himalaya On Google Maps:
Feel free to contact us if any of the above information is incorrect or if you know of additional interesting facts about Shivling, India.
Discover More Interesting Mountain Facts