Which one of the following peaks is the highest?

1. Longitudinal Divisions of the Himalayas (basic)

The Himalayas are not a single mountain ridge but a majestic system of three parallel ranges running from North to South, known as the longitudinal divisions. This structure formed due to the massive tectonic collision between the Indian and Eurasian plates. These ranges vary in age, altitude, and composition, creating a staircase-like descent from the high Tibetan Plateau down to the Northern Plains of India Geography of India, Physiography, p.1. At the very top, we have the Great or Inner Himalayas, traditionally called the Himadri. This is the most continuous range, boasting an average elevation of 6,000 meters. It acts as the backbone of the system and contains the world's most famous peaks, including Mount Everest and Kanchenjunga CONTEMPORARY INDIA-I, Physical Features of India, p.7. To the north of this range lies the Trans-Himalaya (including the Karakoram and Ladakh ranges), which hosts the mighty K2 or Godwin Austen, the second-highest peak in the world. As we move southward, the terrain changes into the Lesser Himalayas or Himachal. These mountains are more rugged and are famous for their moderate climate and lush forests. This is the region where you will find India's beloved hill stations like Shimla, Mussoorie, and Nainital Exploring Society: India and Beyond, Geographical Diversity of India, p.6. Finally, the southernmost edge is the Shiwalik or Outer Himalayas. These are the youngest and lowest hills, formed by sediments brought down by rivers. A unique feature of this zone is the Duns — longitudinal valleys like Dehra Dun that sit nestled between the Lesser Himalayas and the Shiwaliks CONTEMPORARY INDIA-I, Physical Features of India, p.10.

Range	Alternative Name	Key Characteristics
Great Himalayas	Himadri	Highest peaks (Everest, Kanchenjunga); perennial snow.
Lesser Himalayas	Himachal	Home to hill stations; highly compressed rocks.
Outer Himalayas	Shiwalik	Lowest altitude; composed of river sediments; contains "Duns".

Sources: Geography of India, Physiography, p.1; CONTEMPORARY INDIA-I, Physical Features of India, p.7; CONTEMPORARY INDIA-I, Physical Features of India, p.10; Exploring Society: India and Beyond, Geographical Diversity of India, p.6

2. The Trans-Himalayan System (intermediate)

To understand the roof of the world, we must look beyond the main Himalayan wall. The Trans-Himalayan System (also known as the Tethys Himalayas) consists of the mountain ranges located immediately north of the Greater Himalayas. Unlike the main Himalayas, which were formed primarily from the uplift of the Indian plate, these ranges consist of sedimentary rocks from the ancient Tethys Sea floor and were influenced by the earlier stages of the collision between the Indian and Eurasian plates.

This system is composed of four primary ranges that run roughly parallel to each other. From north to south, they are the Karakoram, Ladakh, Zanskar, and Kailash ranges. The Karakoram is the most formidable, housing massive glaciers like the Siachen and the world's second-highest peak, Godwin Austen (K2), which stands at 8,611 meters. The snowline here is notably high, often exceeding 5,500 meters Majid Husain, Geography of India, Physiography, p.23. Because these mountains block the moisture-laden winds from the south, the region behind them falls into a rain shadow, creating the high-altitude Cold Desert of Ladakh, where annual rainfall can be as low as 10 cm Majid Husain, Geography of India, Physiography, p.48.

A critical geographical feature of this region is the Indus River. It originates from the Bokhar Glacier near Mount Kailash in Tibet and enters India, flowing northwest. Crucially, for your mapping skills, the Indus flows in a nearly straight course between the Ladakh Range to its north and the Zanskar Range to its south Majid Husain, Geography of India, The Drainage System of India, p.9. The climate here is extreme; the thin air means sun intensity is high during the day, while night temperatures can plummet to –40°C in the winter Majid Husain, Geography of India, Physiography, p.48.

Range	Key Feature	Notable Peak/Pass
Karakoram	Northernmost; Heavily glaciated	K2 (Godwin Austen)
Ladakh	Cold Desert plateau; North of Indus	Mt. Rakaposhi (steepest peak)
Zanskar	South of Indus; Boundary with Greater Himalayas	Nanga Parbat (at the western anchor)

Sources: Majid Husain, Geography of India, Physiography, p.23; Majid Husain, Geography of India, Physiography, p.48; Majid Husain, Geography of India, The Drainage System of India, p.9

3. Regional (Horizontal) Divisions of the Himalayas (intermediate)

While we often study the Himalayas as three parallel vertical ranges (the Great, Lesser, and Outer Himalayas), geographers also classify them **horizontally from West to East**. This regional division is primarily based on the river valleys that carve through the mountains, serving as natural markers. This system, popularized by Sir S. Burrard, helps us understand the distinct ecological and topographical character of different stretches of the 2,500 km long mountain chain Geography of India, Physiography, p.13.

The four primary regional divisions are defined by the rivers that bound them:

• Punjab (or Kashmir/Himachal) Himalayas: The section lying between the Indus and the Satluj rivers.
• Kumaon Himalayas: Located between the Satluj and the Kali rivers CONTEMPORARY INDIA-I, Physical Features of India, p.10.
• Nepal Himalayas: The central and highest section, demarcated by the Kali and Teesta rivers CONTEMPORARY INDIA-I, Physical Features of India, p.10.
• Assam Himalayas: The easternmost stretch between the Teesta and the Dihang (Brahmaputra) rivers CONTEMPORARY INDIA-I, Physical Features of India, p.10.

Beyond the Dihang gorge, the mountains take a sharp southward turn. These are known as the Purvachal or Eastern Hills, which include the Patkai, Naga, and Mizo hills. These hills are unique because they are composed of strong sandstones and sedimentary rocks, and they form the natural frontier between India and Myanmar CONTEMPORARY INDIA-I, Physical Features of India, p.10.

Division	Western Boundary	Eastern Boundary
Punjab Himalayas	Indus River	Satluj River
Kumaon Himalayas	Satluj River	Kali River
Nepal Himalayas	Kali River	Teesta River
Assam Himalayas	Teesta River	Dihang River

Sources: CONTEMPORARY INDIA-I, Physical Features of India, p.10; Geography of India, Physiography, p.1, 13

4. Strategic Mountain Passes and Glaciers (intermediate)

In physical mapping, mountain passes (often called 'La' in Tibetan) and glaciers are the dynamic features that define high-altitude connectivity and water security. Geographically, these passes are natural gaps or depressions in mountain ranges, formed by tectonic activity or glacial erosion, which allow for the movement of people and trade. In the context of the Himalayas, these routes are strategically vital for national security and international trade. For instance, the Qara Tagh Pass (5,540 m) in the Karakoram range was a critical segment of the ancient caravan route between Leh and Yarkand Majid Husain, Physiography, p. 21. Similarly, Nathu La in Sikkim serves as an offshoot of the ancient Silk Road and remains one of the three main trading border posts between India and China Majid Husain, Physiography, p. 21. Moving from West to East, the character of these passes changes with the terrain. In the Kashmir and Ladakh Himalayas, passes like Zoji La and Banihal (housing the Jawahar Tunnel) are lifelines connecting the valley to the rest of the country Majid Husain, Physiography, p. 15. In the Central Himalayas (Uttarakhand), a series of high-altitude passes such as Mana Pass (5,611 m) and Niti Pass (5,068 m) connect India to Tibet and are historically used by pilgrims for the Manasarovar Yatra Majid Husain, Physiography, p. 21. These regions are also home to massive glaciers like the Gangotri, which act as 'water towers' for the subcontinent. Topographically, these ranges are punctuated by some of the world's highest peaks. The Great Himalayas (Himadri) house giants like K2 (Godwin Austen) at 8,611 m, which is the second-highest peak globally and the highest within India's international territorial claims NCERT Class IX, Chapter 2, p. 8. Other notable peaks include Kanchenjunga (8,586 m), Nanga Parbat (8,126 m), and Nanda Devi (7,816 m) Majid Husain, Physiography, p. 15. Understanding the arrangement of these peaks and the passes between them is essential for mastering regional physical geography.

Pass Name	Location	Strategic Significance
Nathu La	Sikkim	Trade with China; Ancient Silk Road offshoot
Rohtang Pass	Himachal Pradesh	Connects Kullu with Lahaul and Spiti valleys
Zoji La	Ladakh/J&K	Connects Srinagar with Leh; vital for military logistics
Pangsau Pass	Arunachal Pradesh	Connects India to Mandalay, Myanmar

Sources: Geography of India (Majid Husain, 9th ed.), Physiography, p.21; Geography of India (Majid Husain, 9th ed.), Physiography, p.15; Contemporary India-I, Geography, Class IX (NCERT 2025), Chapter 2: Physical Features of India, p.8

5. Major Peaks of India: Ranking and Territorial Claims (exam-level)

When studying the physical geography of India, the ranking of mountain peaks is a frequent area of confusion due to the distinction between territorial claims and effective administrative control. From a geographical perspective, the highest peak in the Indian union is K2 (also known as Godwin Austen), which stands at 8,611 meters. Located in the Karakoram range, K2 is the second-highest peak in the world. However, it is situated in the Gilgit-Baltistan region (Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir), meaning while India maintains a full sovereign claim over it, it is not under current administrative control Geography of India , Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.), Contemporary Issues, p.102.

Following K2, the next highest is Kanchenjunga (8,598m), which sits on the border between Sikkim, India, and Nepal. It is the third-highest peak globally and is often cited as the highest peak in India under active administration CONTEMPORARY INDIA-I , Geography, Class IX . NCERT (Revised ed 2025), Chapter 2, p.8. Further west lies Nanga Parbat (8,126m), the ninth-highest in the world, famously known as the 'Killer Mountain' due to the difficulty of its ascent. A crucial distinction must be made for Nanda Devi (7,817m); unlike K2 or Kanchenjunga, Nanda Devi is the highest mountain peak located entirely within India, with both its base and summit inside the state of Uttarakhand.

Moving beyond the Himalayas to the Peninsular region, the heights decrease significantly but remain geographically vital. The highest point in South India is Anai Mudi (2,695m) in the Western Ghats, followed by Doda Betta (2,637m). In contrast, the Eastern Ghats are much lower, with Mahendragiri (1,501m) being its most prominent peak CONTEMPORARY INDIA-I , Geography, Class IX . NCERT (Revised ed 2025), Chapter 2, p.12.

Peak Name	Height (m)	Key Significance
K2 (Godwin Austen)	8,611	Highest in Indian claim; 2nd highest globally.
Kanchenjunga	8,598	Highest peak in India's effective control; 3rd highest globally.
Nanga Parbat	8,126	Located in the western Himalayas; known as 'Killer Mountain'.
Nanda Devi	7,817	Highest peak located entirely within sovereign Indian borders.

Sources: CONTEMPORARY INDIA-I , Geography, Class IX . NCERT (Revised ed 2025), Physical Features of India, p.8, 12, 15; Geography of India , Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.), Contemporary Issues, p.102

6. Solving the Original PYQ (exam-level)

Now that you have mastered the structural divisions of the Himalayas, this question requires you to apply that knowledge by comparing specific peak elevations within the Great Himalayan and Karakoram ranges. In your recent lessons, you learned that the Himalayas are home to the world's highest peaks, but the key to this question lies in recognizing the exact hierarchy of these summits. You must bridge the gap between map locations and the statistical data of their altitudes to avoid common confusion regarding territorial jurisdiction versus physical height.

To arrive at the correct answer, we must evaluate the absolute heights: Godwin Austen (K2) stands at 8,611 meters, making it the second-highest peak in the world. While Kanchenjunga is a close contender at 8,586 meters (the third highest globally), it remains slightly lower than K2. The other options, Nanga Parbat (8,126 meters) and Nanda Devi (7,816 meters), though significant, do not reach the 8,500-meter mark. Therefore, based purely on elevation, Godwin Austen is the highest peak among the choices provided.

Beware of the common UPSC trap regarding administrative borders. Many students mistakenly choose Kanchenjunga because it is the highest peak in India under current administrative control, or Nanda Devi because it is the highest peak situated entirely within India's undisputed borders. However, in the context of geographical questions and India's official territorial claims, Godwin Austen (K2) is considered the highest point. Always prioritize absolute elevation unless the question specifically asks for "undisputed" or "entirely internal" peaks. As noted in NCERT Class IX Geography: Physical Features of India, these peaks represent the lofty nature of the Himadri range.