Indian Army to scale most difficult peak Mt Dhaulagiri

Mountaineers of Indian Army will set out to scale Mt Dhaulagiri, one of the most difficult mountains to conquer, during their over a month-long expedition in the Himalayan nation starting on Tuesday.

Mountaineers of Indian Army will set out to scale Mt Dhaulagiri, one of the most difficult mountains to conquer, during their over a month-long expedition in the Himalayan nation starting on Tuesday.

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A 17-member team will leave Kathmandu for Pokhara on Tuesday (March 24) and is expected to climb the 8,167-metre-high mountain by the end of April or beginning of May, its leader Lt Col M S Chauhan told reporters in Kathmandu.

The Indian Army, known for its successful expeditions to several mountains including the world's highest peak Mt Everest, is undertaking its first ever expedition to Mt Dhaulagiri, Chauhan said.

Mt Dhaulagiri, which lies in the north-west of scenic city Pokhara, is unique in terms of rise over local terrain. It rises 7,000 metres over the Kali Gandaki gorge in almost 30 kms of horizontal distance.

The peak was considered the highest peak in the world for 30 years till 1948 when its place was taken over by Kanchenjunga and then later on Mt Everest finally got recognition as the highest peak in the world.

Indian Ambassador to Nepal Rakesh Sood, who bade farewell to Mt Dhaulagiri Expedition 2009 team today, said: "Such kind of expedition will also help to strengthen friendly relations between Nepal and India."