কাঞ্চনজংঘা শৃংগ আৰু ধৰ্মীয় বিশ্বাস

কাঞ্চনজংঘা বিশ্বৰ তৃতীয় সৰ্বাধিক উচ্চতাৰ শৃংগ। এই শৃংগৰ উচ্চতা হৈছে ৮৫৮৬ মিটাৰ (২৮১৬৯ফুট)। উল্লেখ্য যে,১৮২৫ বৰ্ষলৈ কাঞ্চনজংঘা শৃংগ বিশ্বৰ সৰ্বাধিক উচ্চতাৰ শৃংগ বুলি সৰ্বজনবিদিত আছিল। কিন্তু ১৮৪৯ চনত চলোৱা এক জৰীপ কাৰ্যত কাঞ্চনজংঘাৰ পৰিৱৰ্তে মাউন্ট এভাৰেষ্ট শৃংগৰ উচ্চতা  সৰ্বাধিক পোৱা যায়। যাৰ ফলত ১৮৫৬ বৰ্ষত কাঞ্চনজংঘাক আনুষ্ঠানিকভাৱে বিশ্বৰ তৃতীয় সৰ্বোচ্চ উচ্চতাৰ শৃংগ হিচাপে স্বীকৃতি প্ৰদান কৰা হয়।

ইফালে চৰকাৰী তথ্য অনুসৰি হিমালয়ৰ কাঞ্চনজংঘা শৃংগ একাধিকবাৰ পৰ্বতাৰোহীয়ে আৰোহণ কৰিছে। কিন্তু এই শৃংগত আৰোহণ কৰা প্ৰত্যেকজন সফল পৰ্বতাৰোহীয়ে  শিখৰটো পোৱাৰ কেইমিটাৰমান আগতেই নিজৰ অভিযান সামৰে। কাৰণ ছিকিমৰ অধিবাসীসকলে কাঞ্চনজংঘাক পৰম পবিত্ৰ বুলি বিবেচনা কৰাৰ লগতে মানি আহিছে। তেওঁলোকৰ ধাৰণা ইয়াৰ শিখৰত ভৰি দিলে এই শৃংগৰ পৱিত্ৰতা নষ্ট হ’ব। সেই বিশ্বাসৰ প্ৰতি সন্মান জনাই পৰ্বতাৰোহী তথা অভিযাত্ৰীসকলে কাঞ্চনজংঘাৰ মূল শিখৰত পদাৰ্পণ কৰাৰ পৰা বিৰত থাকে।

✍ প্ৰাণজিৎ ডেকা

• Location: Kanchenjunga is located in the eastern Himalayas, on the border between Nepal and the Indian state of Sikkim.
• Height: It is the third highest mountain in the world, with an elevation of 8,586 meters (28,169 feet).
• Name: The name “Kanchenjunga” means “Five Treasures of Snow” in the local Tibetan language, referring to its five peaks.
• Peaks: Kanchenjunga has five main peaks, with the highest being Kanchenjunga Main, followed by Kanchenjunga West, Kanchenjunga Central, Kanchenjunga South, and Kangbachen.
• Climbing History: The first ascent of Kanchenjunga Main was made in 1955 by a British team led by Charles Evans. Since then, there have been several successful ascents, but the mountain is considered one of the most challenging to climb due to its remote location and technical difficulties.
• Cultural Significance: Kanchenjunga is considered sacred by the local Sikkimese people, who believe it to be the abode of the mountain deity “Dzo-nga.”
• Biodiversity: The Kanchenjunga Conservation Area, established in 1997, is a biodiversity hotspot, home to many rare and endangered species, including the snow leopard, red panda, and Himalayan black bear.
• Climate: The climate around Kanchenjunga varies greatly, with temperatures ranging from freezing at higher elevations to mild in the valleys below. The monsoon season, from June to September, brings heavy rainfall and snowfall to the region.
• Trekking: The Kanchenjunga Base Camp trek is a popular trekking route that offers stunning views of the mountain and surrounding peaks. The trek takes around three weeks to complete and passes through remote villages and pristine forests.
• Conservation: Due to its ecological importance, Kanchenjunga is protected as part of the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area, which covers an area of 2,035 square kilometers (786 square miles).
• Challenges: Climbing Kanchenjunga is extremely challenging due to its remote location, unpredictable weather, and technical difficulties. The mountain has a high fatality rate, with many climbers succumbing to avalanches, falls, or altitude sickness.
• Biodiversity: The Kanchenjunga Conservation Area is home to a wide variety of plant and animal species, including over 2,000 species of flowering plants, 69 species of mammal, and 300 species of birds.
• Climbing Routes: There are several routes to the summit of Kanchenjunga, with the most popular being the South Ridge route, which was used for the first ascent in 1955. Other routes include the North Ridge, West Ridge, and Yalung Glacier.
• Cultural Diversity: The region around Kanchenjunga is home to a diverse range of ethnic groups, including the Limbu, Rai, Sherpa, and Gurung people, each with their own distinct culture and traditions.
• Ecotourism: The Kanchenjunga region has become increasingly popular with ecotourists, who come to experience its pristine natural beauty and unique biodiversity. However, efforts are being made to ensure that tourism is sustainable and does not harm the environment.
• Challenges: The conservation of Kanchenjunga faces many challenges, including poaching, deforestation, and the impacts of climate change. Efforts are being made to address these issues and protect the mountain and its surrounding ecosystem for future generations.