Sunrise Behind Hardeol.

Sunrise Behind Hardeol., originally uploaded by The Wandering Hermit.

Hardeol : "The Temple of God" is backlit during a fiery sunrise viewed from the Sandalya Kund (4200mtrs) during a sidetrip on the Milam Glacier Trek.

Elevation: 7,151 m (23,461 ft)
Location Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand, India
Range Kumaon Himalaya
Prominence 1,300 m (4,300 ft)
Coordinates: 30°33′36″N, 80°00′36″E
First ascent: May 31, 1978 by Indo-Tibetan Border Police Expedition


HARDEOL is one of the major peaks of the Garhwal Himalaya. It is the highest peak on the northern side of the ring of peaks guarding the Nanda Devi Sanctuary, and lies at the northeast corner of this ring. It is situated at the northern end of the Milam valley, in the Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand, India.

To its immediate north lies Trishuli, and just south is Rishi Pahar, on a north-south trending ridge leading eventually to Nanda Devi East. Hardeol is also sometimes referred to as Trishuli South.

Climbing History

First was a reconnaissance in 1939 by a Polish team (who had just climbed the formidable Nanda Devi East) however they lost 2 members in an avalanche which wiped out their Camp 3 on Trishuli and withdrew.
In 1964 a team led Maj Kohli too withdrew after their camps were destroyed by an avalanche.
1968 Saw Harish Kapadia and other members from a young team fail on the unstable icefall after approaching from the Ikualari Glacier. .. clearly the Icefall was the major bug bear of climbing this peak. In his book Harish Kapadia described this icefall between Trishuli & Hardeol to be seemingly hollow.

In 1968 a determined effort of a team lead by CK Mitra climbed Trishuli but could not climb Hardeol due to the onset of the Monsoons.

In 1974 four members (2 Indians & 2 NZ team members) of an Indo-New Zealand ladies team lead jointly by Ms. Shashikanta and Magaret Clarke were killed in its lower and highly unstable Icefall while attempting the mountain from the South.

In 1975 an I.T.B.P team under Hukum Singh was unsuccessful from the North .(They however had success on Trishul)

In 1978 first ascent of Hardeol was made by a team from the Indo-Tibetan Border Police led by S. P. Mulasi, on May 31, climbing from the ridge connecting the peak to Trishuli climbing it from the southern side.

Only one further ascent, in 1991, is listed in the Himalayan Index.
This ascent, by a large expedition from the Indian Border Security Force, put five members on the summit on September 24.

The best approach to Hardeol is from the eastern side, through the Ikualari glacier and thence to the right, up the Trishuli valley towards the Hardeol icefall.