Nanga Parbat — A wall of the Himalaya.

The snow and rock of Nanga Parbat's Rupal Face rising above a green valley floor and stream

Gilgit-Baltistan

A wall of the Himalaya.

Photo: Maariz Ansari / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Nanga Parbat rises to 8,126 metres at the western end of the Himalaya, west-southwest of Astore. It is the world's ninth-highest peak and one of the most visually dominant: it stands alone, with no comparable neighbour.

Its southern side, the Rupal Face, is among the greatest mountain walls on Earth and was first climbed in 1970 by Reinhold and Günther Messner. Trekkers approach from three sides: Fairy Meadows to the north, the Rupal valley to the south and Diamir to the west.

Elevation: 8,126 m
World rank: Ninth highest
Range: Western Himalaya
Rupal Face first ascent: 1970
Generally visited: June to September
Coordinates: 35.237° N, 74.589° E

Seasons are general guidance. Mountain roads and passes open and close with the weather; check locally before travelling.