Hindu Raj Explained

Hindu Raj Mountains
Map:	Pakistan
State:	Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan (Pakistan)
Highest:	Koyo Zom
Elevation M:	6872
Range Coordinates:	36.3284°N 72.9987°W

The Hindu Raj (Urdu: {{Nastaliq|ہندو راج, translation: "Hindu rule" in Sanskrit) is a mountain range in northern Pakistan, between the Hindu Kush and the Karakoram ranges.^[1] The peaks in the Hindu Raj mountains average between 5,000 to 6,000 metres in height. Its highest peak is Koyo Zom, 6,872 m (22,546 ft).

Etymology

The name Hindu Raj (Sanskrit: हिन्दू राज) means "Hindu rule" in Sanskrit and its descendant languages, such as Hindi-Urdu.^[1] The word Hindu, used to describe the inhabitants in the land of the Sindhu (Indus) River, is ultimately derived from the Sanskrit word Sindhu (Sanskrit: सिन्धु), which means "a large body of water";^[2] the word raj means "rule" in Sanskrit.^[3]

Geography

The Hindu Raj mountain range runs between Chitral and Gilgit; behind Darkot,^[4] south of the Pamir Mountains and east of the Hindu Kush.^[5] Its peaks rise to approximately 22,500 feet.^[6] The Hindu Raj mountains run largely parallel to the Hindu Kush mountains, sources disagree whether some peaks, including Buni Zom and Ghamubar Zom are in the Hindu Raj or the Hindu Kush.^[7]

Notable peaks of the Hindu Raj

[edit]

Peak	Height (m)	Coordinates	Prominence (m)	First ascent
Koyo Zom	6,889	35°56′51″N 75°45′12″E	1,891	1968; 2019, west face^[8] ^[9]
Buni Zom	6,551	36° 9′ 15″ N, 72° 19′ 39″ E	2,845	1957
Ghamubar Zom^[10] also known as Gamugal, or Dhuli Chish	6,518	36° 35′ 24″ N, 73° 20′ 30″ E	2,133	1973^[11] ^[12]
Gul Lasht Zom	6,657	36° 21′ 10.8″ N, 71° 44′ 2.4″ E	1,060	1975
Thui I^[13]	6,662	36° 43' 33'' N, 73° 10' 24'' E	1,059	1975^[14] ^[15]
Thui II^[16]	6,523	36° 42' 0'' N, 73° 3' 54'' E	1,272	1978^[17]
Ghamubar V (alternatively Ghamubar II)	6,400			2023^[18]
Shahan Dok (Shah Dok)^[19]	6,320	36° 26' N, 72° 52' E	1,815	1988^[20]
Chaintar Chish	6,273			1968^[21] ^[22]
Garmush Zom I	6,244			1975^[23] ^[24]
Karka	6,222	36° 43′ 45″ N, 73° 53′ 25″ E		2007^[25]
Garmush Zom II (Garmush Zom South)	6,180			2000^[26]
Chikar Zom	6,110			1968^[27]
Dashbar Zom	6,072			1968
Chotar Zom (Dashbar Zom)	6,058			2007^[28]
Garmush North	6,048			no ascents recorded
Shayaz^[29]	6,026	36° 39' N, 72° 50' E	1,797	1993^[30]
Uddin Zom (formerly Peak 5995 m)	6,010			2000^[31]
Matkash	6,000			1975^[32]
Kachqiant	5,990	36°37'0.25"N, 73°14'35.40"E		2018^[33]
Shahan Dok III	5,893			1986^[34]
Khache Brangsa	5,560			2001^[35]
Ghonoboro	5,500			2001

Notes and References

1. Book: The Himalayan Journal, Volumes 34-35 . 1974 . . 109 . English.
2. Book: Takacs . Sarolta Anna . Cline . Eric H. . The Ancient World . 17 July 2015 . . 978-1-317-45839-5 . 377 . English.
3. Book: Annals of Oriental Research, Volume 19 . 1974 . . 7 . English.
4. Web site: The HJ/31/40 THE EXPLORATION OF THE HINDU RAJ . 2024-07-23 . The HJ/31/40 THE EXPLORATION OF THE HINDU RAJ . en.
5. Book: Singh . Vijay P. . Singh . Pratap . Haritashya . Umesh K. . Encyclopedia of Snow, Ice and Glaciers . 1 July 2011 . Springer Science & Business Media . 978-90-481-2641-5 . 514 . English.
6. Book: Simner . Mark . Pathan Rising: Jihad on the North West Frontier of India 1897-1898 . 20 January 2017 . Fonthill Media . English.
7. Book: Cavendish . Marshall . World and Its Peoples . 2006 . Marshall Cavendish . 978-0-7614-7571-2 . 292 . English.
8. Web site: Koyo Zom West Face first ascent by Tom Livingstone and Ally Swinton . 2024-07-23 . PlanetMountain.com.
9. Web site: AAC Publications - The Great Game: A Difficult New Route up Koyo Zom, 51 Years After the First Ascent . 2024-07-23 . publications.americanalpineclub.org.
10. Web site: Ghamubar Zom - Peakbagger.com . 2024-07-23 . www.peakbagger.com.
11. Web site: Griffin . Lindsay . 2008-01-07 . French Climb Three New Peaks in the Hindu Raj . 2024-07-23 . Alpinist . en-US.
12. Web site: AAC Publications - Asia, Pakistan, Gamugal, Hindu Raj . 2024-07-23 . publications.americanalpineclub.org.
13. Web site: Thui I - Peakbagger.com . 2024-07-23 . www.peakbagger.com.
14. Web site: AAC Publications - Asia, Pakistan, Thui Group, Hindu Raj . 2024-07-23 . publications.americanalpineclub.org.
15. Web site: Benavides . Angela . 2024-07-18 . Japanese to Attempt Unclimbed North Face in Pakistan » Explorersweb . 2024-07-23 . Explorersweb.
16. Web site: Thui II - Peakbagger.com . 2024-07-23 . www.peakbagger.com.
17. Web site: AAC Publications - Asia, Pakistan, Thui II, Hindu Raj . 2024-07-23 . publications.americanalpineclub.org.
18. Web site: Annapurna . Kris . 2023-09-23 . Japanese Trio Make First Ascent of 6,400m Ghamubar Zom V » Explorersweb . 2024-07-23 . Explorersweb.
19. Web site: Shah Dok - Peakbagger.com . 2024-07-23 . www.peakbagger.com.
20. Web site: AAC Publications - Asia, Pakistan, Shahan Dok, Central Hindu Raj . 2024-07-23 . publications.americanalpineclub.org.
21. Web site: Griffin . Lindsay . 2008-01-07 . French Climb Three New Peaks in the Hindu Raj . 2024-07-23 . Alpinist . en-US.
22. Web site: The HJ/31/40 THE EXPLORATION OF THE HINDU RAJ . 2024-07-23 . The HJ/31/40 THE EXPLORATION OF THE HINDU RAJ . en.
23. Web site: AAC Publications - Asia, Pakistan, Garmush, Hindu Raj . 2024-07-23 . publications.americanalpineclub.org.
24. Web site: Garmush 6244m . 2024-07-23 . PlanetMountain.com.
25. Web site: AAC Publications - Asia, Pakistan, Hindu Raj, Karka and Six Other Peaks in and near the Chhantir Valley . 2024-07-23 . publications.americanalpineclub.org.
26. Web site: AAC Publications - Darchan and Garmush I and II: New Routes and Ski Descents . 2024-07-23 . publications.americanalpineclub.org.
27. Web site: AAC Publications - Asia, Pakistan, Akher Chioh and Kotgaz Zom . 2024-07-23 . publications.americanalpineclub.org.
28. Web site: AAC Publications - Chotar Zom (Dasbar Zom, 6,058m), South Pillar; Nashran (5,200m), Northeast Ridge; Pois Chhish (4,400m) . 2024-07-23 . publications.americanalpineclub.org.
29. Web site: Shayaz - Peakbagger.com . 2024-07-23 . www.peakbagger.com.
30. Web site: AAC Publications - Asia, Pakistan, Shayaz, Eastern Hindu Kush . 2024-07-23 . publications.americanalpineclub.org.
31. Web site: AAC Publications - Asia, Pakistan, Hindu Raj, Uddin Zom, First Ascent . 2024-07-23 . publications.americanalpineclub.org.
32. Web site: AAC Publications - Asia, Pakistan, Matkash, Hindu Raj . 2024-07-23 . publications.americanalpineclub.org.
33. Web site: Kachqiant climbed in Pakistan's Hindu Raj by Danny Schoch and Bas Visscher . 2024-07-23 . PlanetMountain.com.
34. Web site: AAC Publications - Asia, Pakistan, Shahan Dok, Central Hindu Raj . 2024-07-23 . publications.americanalpineclub.org.
35. Web site: AAC Publications - Asia, Pakistan, Karakoram, Sub-6000m Peaks (Karakoram and Hindu Raj), Attempts and Ascents of New Routes . 2024-07-23 . publications.americanalpineclub.org.