(TibetanReview.net, Sep26’24) – A team of Indian mountaineers has recently scaled an unchartered 20,942 feet peak near Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh and named it after the 6th Dalai Lama reincarnation Tsangyang Gyatso. The naming is deemed as appropriate as the then temporal and spiritual leader of Tibet was born in Tawang.
A 15-member team led by Colonel Ranveer Singh Jamwal from the National Institute of Mountaineering and Adventure Sports (NIMAS) scaled the hitherto unclimbed peak at Gorichen range near Tawang in West Kameng district on Sep 21. The expedition began on Sep 7 from NIMAS base at Dirang in Arunachal Pradesh, reported deccanherald.com Sep 26.
“The peak was one of the most technically challenging and unexplored summits in the region. After overcoming immense challenges including sheer ice walls, treacherous crevasses, and a 2-kilometer-long glacier, the team immortalised the momentous feat by naming the peak Tsangyang Gyatso Peak in honour of His Holiness the 6th Dalai Lama Rigzen Tsangyang Gyatso,” a statement issued by the Indian Army on Sep 26 was quoted as saying.
“By naming this peak after His Holiness Dalai Lama, NIMAS aims to pay tribute to his timeless wisdom and his profound contributions to the Monpa community and beyond,” the statement was quoted as saying.
The 6th Dalai Lama was born at Urgelling Monastery in Tawang in 1683. The current, 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, entered India through Tawang in Mar 1959, following China’s occupation of Tibet.
Tawang was one of the major theatres of the China-India War of 1962.
NIMAS has informed the Indian Mountaineering Foundation about the ascent and the decision to name the peak. The necessary formalities for naming the peak are being completed to ensure that “Tsangyang Gyatso Peak” is recognised on the official map, said the army statement.
This historic climb not only celebrates Arunachal Pradesh’s rich cultural heritage but also positions the region as a key destination for mountaineering and adventure sports, attracting explorers and adventure enthusiasts from around the globe, the statement was further quoted as saying.
Arunachal chief minister Pema Khandu has congratulated the NIMAS for the Summit and expressed his support for naming the peak after the 6th Dalai Lama Tsangyang Gyatso. “His Holiness Tsangyang Gyatso has long been a source of wisdom and cultural pride for the people of this region. His teachings and philosophies continue to guide us, and this peak will stand as a testament to his enduring legacy,” newsable.asianetnews.com Sep 25 quoted Khandu as saying.