Inspiring Personalities
Bachendri Pal
Bachendri Pal is a legendary Indian mountaineer. In 1984, she became the first Indian woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest. She has led many all-women expeditions and was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2019.
Arunima Sinha
Arunima Sinha’s story is one of incredible resilience. After losing a leg in an accident at age 22, she trained under Bachendri Pal and became the first female amputee to climb Mount Everest in 2013. She eventually climbed the highest peaks of every continent.
Comparative Heights of Major Peaks
The following list compares the approximate heights of famous mountains mentioned in the chapter:
Sacred Landscapes
Many mountains are considered sacred by traditional communities:
- Mount Everest: Called Chomolungma (Mother Goddess of the World) by Tibetans and Sagarmatha (Goddess of the Sky) by Nepalis.
- Mount Kailash: Held sacred by Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, and followers of Bon.
Tip
Did you know? The Ganga river is nearly 2,500 km long and its basin provides a livelihood for one of the largest concentrations of people in the world.