‘We scaled Nun peak in four days’: Mountaineer Vishal Thakur

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Vishal Thakur and his team complete the technically demanding ascent and return safely to Tangol after a four-day high-altitude expedition.

Chandigarh, September 1

Mountaineer Vishal Thakur has successfully summited Nun Peak, one of the challenging peaks of the Zanskar Range in the Himalayas, at an altitude of 7,135 meters (23,409 feet). The technically demanding expedition was completed in just four days.

Thakur, along with Rahul, Nikita Thakur and Rakesh Singh Negi, began the expedition from Tangol village in Kargil on August 26 and successfully returned to the base village on August 30.

Nun Peak forms part of the Nun-Kun massif and is considered a technically demanding climbing objective that requires advanced mountaineering skills, specialized equipment, and experience in high-altitude conditions. The massif also includes Mount Kun, which stands at 7,077 meters.

Thakur is a professionally trained mountaineer who completed his mountaineering courses at the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering (NIM), Uttarkashi. His formal training and experience in the Himalayas have enabled him to undertake several technically challenging expeditions.

The Nun Peak summit adds another achievement to Thakur’s climbing record. Last year, he and his team successfully climbed Manirang Peak in Spiti, Himachal Pradesh, in alpine style, handling technical climbing, equipment movement, cooking, and other expedition responsibilities without porters, guides, or cooks.

He has also climbed several other challenging Himalayan peaks, including Black Peak in Uttarakhand and Friendship Peak near Manali.

The Nun Peak expedition was conducted after obtaining the required permits from the Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF), New Delhi, along with other necessary permissions. The team used appropriate technical equipment and followed safety protocols throughout the expedition.

“Nun Peak was not simply about reaching 7,135 meters. It was about understanding the mountain, respecting its conditions and maintaining complete trust within the team,” Thakur said. He added that climbing a technical peak at such an altitude requires experience, discipline, preparation and sound decision-making.

Completing the ascent in four days and returning safely with the entire team made the achievement particularly special, he said.

Thakur said his future objectives include taking on more technically challenging peaks across the Indian Himalayas. He also aims to promote responsible mountaineering and high-altitude expedition culture and encourage trained adventure enthusiasts to explore the country’s mountain terrain.

The successful ascent of Nun Peak marks another significant milestone in Thakur’s mountaineering journey and adds to his efforts to explore and promote technical climbing in the Indian Himalayas.