KANCHENJUNGA (or Kangchenjunga) IS THE HIGHEST MOUNTAIN IN INDIA AND THE THIRD HIGHEST IN THE WORLD AFTER MOUNT EVEREST (CHOMOLUNGMA) AND K2 (QOGIR) PEAK. IT STANDS AT 8586 M (28169 FT) ABOVE THE SEA LEVEL.

Mount Kanchenjunga is located approximately 125 km (78 mi) from Mount Everest. It has a total of five peaks and is sometimes called Five Treasures of Snow; three peaks lie at the border between Taplejung District, Nepal and North Sikkim, India, while the other two are situated completely in Nepal.

The first documented ascent took place in 1955 when Joe Brown and George Band have first climbed the summit, as part of a British expedition. However, at that time the mountaineers have given a promise to the local Chogyal people to leave the very top of the mountain untouched. As for the contemporary ascents, despite of the latest climbing gear enhancements, the fatality rates among mountaineers are extremely high.

THE FIVE HIGHEST PEAKS IN INDIA:

Kanchenjunga - 8586 m (28169 ft), in the Himalaya Mountain Range, at the border between Taplejung District, Nepal and North Sikkim, India.
Nanda Devi - 7816 m (25643 ft), in the Garhwal Himalaya Mountain Range, Nanda Devi National Park, Uttarakhand, India.
Kamet - 7756 m (25446 ft), in the Garhwal Himalaya Mountain Range, Chamoli District, Uttarakhand, India.
Saser Muztagh - 7672 m (25171 ft), in the Ladakh region, in the Karakoram Mountain Range, India.
Saser Kangri III - 7495 m (24590 ft), in the Karakoram Mountain Range, in the Jammu and Kashmir state, India.