25/09/2026
A bit about Bhutan’s sacred mountains
At 7,570 metres (24,835 feet), Gangkhar Puensum in Bhutan is recognized as the world’s highest unclimbed mountain. But its significance extends beyond its height. Bhutanese spiritual traditions regard the mountain as sacred, while some local beliefs associate it with the mythical Yeti and other legendary beings.
Also known as Kangkar Pünzum, Gangkhar Puensum lies on or near the Bhutan–China border. Its name is commonly translated as “White Peak of the Three Spiritual Brothers,” reflecting its spiritual significance.
Several expeditions attempted to reach the summit in the 1980s, but none succeeded. The mountain's unclimbed status is not due solely to its altitude and challenging terrain; Bhutan's restrictions on high-altitude mountaineering have also played a decisive role.
In Bhutanese Buddhist and local spiritual traditions, many of the country's high mountains are regarded as sacred domains associated with deities and protective spirits. Gangkhar Puensum holds particular spiritual significance, and some traditions also describe the remote peak as a place associated with the Yeti and other legendary creatures.
In 1994, Bhutan prohibited mountaineering above 6,000 metres, citing respect for local spiritual beliefs. In 2003, the country prohibited mountaineering altogether. The restrictions have prevented further attempts to climb Gangkhar Puensum.
As a result, the 7,570-metre peak occupies a unique place in mountaineering: no climber has reached its summit, and climbers are not currently permitted to attempt it.
There is an important distinction, however. Gangkhar Puensum is the highest unclimbed mountain overall, but it is not the highest unclimbed peak where climbing is permitted. Guinness World Records identifies an unnamed peak in Tibet's Lapche Kang range, at about 7,250 metres, as the highest unclimbed mountain where climbing is not prohibited.
For now, Gangkhar Puensum remains one of the world's most intriguing unclimbed peaks—a 7,570-metre Himalayan mountain whose summit remains untouched, shaped by both mountaineering history and Bhutan's long-standing spiritual traditions.