Terich Mir

Highest mountain of the Hindu Kush range, located in Pakistan

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Tirich Mir

Tirich Mir summit at night

Highest point
Elevation| 7,708 m (25,289 ft)
Ranked 33rd
Prominence| 3,908 m (12,822 ft)[1]
Ranked 30th
Listing| Ultra
Coordinates| 36°15′15″N 71°50′36″E﻿ / ﻿36.25417°N 71.84333°E﻿ / 36.25417; 71.84333[1]
Naming
Native name| ترچ میر (Khowar)
Geography

Tirich Mir

Chitral District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Show map of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Tirich Mir

Tirich Mir (Pakistan)

Show map of Pakistan

Parent range| Hindu Kush
Climbing
First ascent| A. Næss, P. Kvernberg, H. Berg, and T. Streather in 1950
Easiest route| glacier/snow/ice

Terich Mir (also spelled Terichmir, Tirich Mir and Turch Mir) is the highest mountain of the Hindu Kush range, and the highest mountain in the world outside of the Himalayas–Karakoram range, at 7,708 meters (25,289 ft) above sea level. It is located in the Chitral District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.

It is the 33rd highest peak in the world. The first recorded ascent of the mountain was on 21 July 1950 by a Norwegian-British expedition consisting of Arne Næss, P. Kvernberg, H. Berg, and Tony Streather,[2] depicted in the 1952 documentary film Tirich Mir til topps. Tirich Mir overlooks the town of Chitral, and can be easily seen from the main bazaar.

It is the highest mountain in the province of Khyber Pukhtunkhwa. In fact, it is the highest mountain of Pakistan outside the Gilgit-Baltistan region.

The last village situated in Chitral District before the mountain begins is the village of Tirich.[3] This valley begins at Soorwaht, where Tirich River meets Torkhow River from the west, up to Shagrom—the last permanent settlement of the valley. From that point onwards, there are summertime grazing pastures and shepherd huts leading up to the snout of the lower Tirich glacier, which goes further up to Tirich Concordia, where glaciers from seven sub-valleys slide down and join at the Concordia glacial confluence.[citation needed]

It is believed the origin of the name Tirich Mir is "King of Tirich" as Tirich is the name of a side valley of the Mulkhow valley of Chitral which leads up to Tirich Mir. An alternative etymology derives this name from the Wakhi language. In Wakhi, trich means shadow or darkness and mir means king, so Tirich Mir means king of darkness. It could have gotten this name as it creates long shadows on the Wakhan side of its face.[citation needed]

## Royalty-free access in 2024-25

[edit]

To commemorate the 75th anniversary of Tirich Mir’s first ascent and encourage visitors to the region, the Pakistani authorities have announced free permits in 2024-5 for both climbing and trekking Tirich Mir.[4]

## Climate

[edit]

View of the peak from Chitral Gol

The weather station 4,245 m (13,927 ft) above sea level lies in the Tundra climate/Alpine climate (ET) zone according to Köppen Climate Classification. On this specific altitude (4,245 m or 13,927 ft asl) we find moderately cold winters and cool summers generally above freezing. Annual mean temperature is −5.25 °C (22.55 °F), which puts the station well inside the range of continuous permafrost. The average temperature in the coldest month of January is −17.5 °C (0.5 °F) and the two hottest months of July and August have mean temperatures of 6.5 °C (43.7 °F). Average low temperatures range from −23 °C (−9 °F) in January to 0 °C (32 °F) in July and August. The summit has an Ice cap climate (EF) where no month has an average temperature above 0 °C (32 °F).

Climate data for Tirich Mir (4,235 m asl) Averages (1981–2010)

Month  | Jan  | Feb  | Mar  | Apr  | May  | Jun  | Jul  | Aug  | Sep  | Oct  | Nov  | Dec  | Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)  | −12
(10)  | −11
(12)  | −7
(19)  | −2
(28)  | 3.0
(37.4)  | 9.0
(48.2)  | 13.0
(55.4)  | 13.0
(55.4)  | 9.0
(48.2)  | 0.0
(32.0)  | −6
(21)  | −10
(14)  | −0.08
(31.86)
Daily mean °C (°F)  | −17.5
(0.5)  | −16
(3)  | −12
(10)  | −6.5
(20.3)  | −1.5
(29.3)  | 3.5
(38.3)  | 6.5
(43.7)  | 6.5
(43.7)  | 3.0
(37.4)  | −4
(25)  | −10
(14)  | −15
(5)  | −5.25
(22.55)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)  | −23
(−9)  | −21
(−6)  | −17
(1)  | −11
(12)  | −6
(21)  | −2
(28)  | 0.0
(32.0)  | 0.0
(32.0)  | −3.0
(26.6)  | −8
(18)  | −14
(7)  | −20
(−4)  | −10.4
(13.3)
Source: Meteoblue[5]

## Folklore

[edit]

According to the polytheist Kalash people who live nearby, this mountain is the domain of the goddess Krumai. She appears in the form of a wild goat, and she is associated with childbirth.[6] In one legend, she disturbed the other gods, and was chased by Imra, who threw her into a fast river. Krumai jumped up the river and ran up the cliff, causing the cliff's shape with her hooves. She revealed her true form and prepared a feast for the other gods, and they accepted her into their pantheon.

The Chitrali people, who are Muslim, instead believe that this mountain is the home of fairies and their fortress. No one may climb it, as doing so will bring death to the trespasser. These mountain fairies are known as "Bohtan Doyak", the "stone throwers".[7][4]

## See also

[edit]

* Akhlan Terich
* Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
* List of mountains in Pakistan
* List of highest mountains on Earth
* List of Ultras of the Karakoram and Hindu Kush

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "Afghanistan and Pakistan Ultra-Prominence". peaklist.org. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
2. ^ "NORWEGIAN EXPEDITION TO TIRICH MIR, 1950 : Himalayan Journal vol.16/5". www.himalayanclub.org.
3. ^ "Saltoro Summits Treks & Tours Pakistan". www.saltorosummits.com. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
4. ^ a b Benavides, Angela (1 April 2024). "Free Permits for Tirich Mir in 2024-25 » Explorersweb". Explorersweb. Retrieved 21 December 2024.
5. ^ "Meteoblue".
6. ^ Chohan, Amar Singh (1989). "A History of Kafferistan: Socio-economic and Political Conditions of the Kaffers".
7. ^ @MHuzaifaNizam (18 September 2021). "Lesser Known Fact: The Terich Mir mountain in #Pakistan (Hindu Kush's highest) has for centuries attracted the Kh…" (Tweet) - via Twitter.

## Books

[edit]

* Keay, John, "The Gilgit Game": The Explorers of the Western Himalayas, 1865-95, Oxford University Press, 1985, ISBN 0-19-577466-3
* Robertson, Sir George Scott, The Kafirs of the Hindukush, Oxford University Press, (1896, OUP edition 1986), ISBN 0-19-577127-3

## External links

[edit]

* Tirich Mir on SummitPost

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF

National|

* Germany

Geographic|

* Pleiades