Bandarpunch


Bandarpunch is a mountain massif of the Garhwal division of the Himalayas, in the Indian state of Uttarakhand. Widely known as Bandarpoonch, literally "tail of the monkey", its name is inspired by the mythological tale in which Hanuman, the monkey god, extinguishes his tale, after it catches fire during the battle between King Rama and Ravana in Lanka, by going to the summit of the mountain.
Bandarpunch is located at the western edge of the high Himalayan range where it turns the corner to the northwest. It is part of the Sankari Range and lies within the Govind Pashu Vihar National Park and Sanctuary. It is a major watershed for the headwaters of the Yamuna River, whose source lies above Yamunotri, on the west end of the massif below White Peak. Yamunotri is the westernmost of the four most sacred pilgrimage places and destination for thousands of pilgrims annually. On the north side of the Bandapoonch massif, the 12 km long glacier from its flanks feeds the Ruinsar Gad which flows into the Yamuna at Seema. On the south side, the glacier at the base of Bandarpoonch peak feeds the Hanuman Ganga River which joins the Yamuna at Hanuman Chatti.
Bandarpunch massif has 3 peaks. To the west above Yamunotri is White Peak. Almost 5 km east is Bandarpoonch Peak and about 4 km to the north-east of that is Kalanag lit. black serpent, commonly known as Black Peak.
Major General Harold Williams led the first successful climbing expedition in 1950. The first team to summit Bandarpoonch Peak comprised legendary mountaineer Tenzing Norgay, Sergeant Roy Greenwood and Sherpa Kin Chok Tshering.