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Nanda Devi facts for kids

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Nanda devi
Nanda Devi peak
Nanda Devi from Kausani
Nanda Devi seen from Sassanian

Nanda Devi is a very tall mountain in India. It is the second highest mountain in India. It is also the highest mountain that is completely inside India. Another mountain, Kangchenjunga, is taller but sits on the border of India and Nepal. Nanda Devi is the 23rd-highest peak in the whole world.

Long ago, people thought Nanda Devi was the highest mountain on Earth. But in 1808, new measurements showed that Dhaulagiri was taller. Nanda Devi was also the highest mountain in India until 1975. That's when Sikkim, where Kangchenjunga is, became part of India.

This amazing peak is part of the Garhwal Himalayas mountain range. You can find it in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. It sits between the Rishiganga valley in the west and the Goriganga valley in the east. The name Nanda Devi means "Bliss-Giving Goddess." Many people see it as the special goddess who protects the Uttarakhand Himalaya region.

Secret Mission on the Mountain

Nanda-region-map-annotated
Map of the Nanda Devi area

Between 1965 and 1968, something unusual happened on Nanda Devi. The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) from the United States worked with India's Indian Intelligence Bureau (IB). Their goal was to put a special listening device on top of Nanda Devi.

This device was powered by a small nuclear source. It was designed to listen for signals from missile tests. These tests were happening in Xinjiang Province, China. At that time, China was just starting to develop its missile program.

The teams had to stop their mission because of very bad weather. They left the device near the mountain's top. The next spring, they went back to find it, but they couldn't. Because of this secret activity, the Nanda Devi area was closed to visitors for many years. It finally reopened in 1974.

Images for kids

  • The folk characters of Latu and Lati durinɡ the mask dance festival in lata villaɡe, nanda devi national park in indian himalayas

    Mask Dance in Lata village, near Nanda Devi National Park

  • Nanda Devi peak view from the west near Deodi camp in Rishi Ganga gorge Mon 2 Jun 1980

    Nanda Devi peak view from the west near Deodi camp in Rishi Ganga gorge

  • Nanda Devi peak view from outer Sanctuary near Bujgara Jun 1980

    Nanda Devi peak view from outer Sanctuary near Bujgara

  • Nanda Devi peak view from outer Sanctuary near Bujgara Jun 1980 closeup

    Nanda Devi peak view from outer Sanctuary near Bujgara closeup

  • Nanda Devi peaks wide view SE from slopes of Kalanka in Changabang Gal Jun 1980

    Nanda Devi peaks wide view SE from slopes of Kalanka in Changabang Gal

  • Nanda Devi peak N face view from slopes of Deo Damla Jun 1980

    Nanda Devi peak N face view from slopes of Deo Damla

  • Nanda Devi north face viewed from Deo Damla approach valley June 1980

    Nanda Devi north face viewed from Deo Damla approach valley

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