Kangchenjunga: Guardian Of The Eastern Himalaya

Kangchenjunga is one of the most mysterious mountains in the world. It wasn't scaled until 1955, two years after Everest, and even then the party of British mountaineers who climbed it stopped short of the summit in deference to the wishes of the chogyal (spiritual leader) of Sikkim, who feared that the presence of a human foot might violate its holiness and sanctity. The length of Kangchenjunga's stupendous bulk is capped by five peaks, which loom over eastern Nepal and western Sikkim like a palm held up in perpetual blessing. The people who live there believe Kangchenjunga to be their patron diety, protecting them from harm. According to legend, the five peaks are the repository of the five holy items deemed essential for life: minerals, grain, salt, and the holy scriptures.