Nilgiri Peaks

The view of Nilgiri dominates the Kali Gandaki valley and it just about crosses the 7000m mark. Let it be known that there are 3 Nilgiris, Nilgiri South (6839m), Nilgiri Central (6940m) and Nilgiri (7061m) (also known as Nilgiri North). Nilgiri South is the shortest of them all and Nilgiri North is the tallest. These 3 peaks almost appear like steps from the south to the north and the average difference between each one of them is around 100m. "Nil" in the name Nilgiri means the 'blue' in Nepali which must have something to do with the bluish tint that the Nilgiri gives away and 'Giri' means mountain in Sanskrit. Nilgiri sits right next to Tilicho peak towards the west and has the same ridge line. Nilgiri was the first of all the Nilgiris to be conquered. That happened in October, 1962 when a team of Dutch brothers led by a French guide, Lionel Terray scaled it. Nilgiri Central sits in between the Nilgiri North and Nilgiri South. It was first climbed in 1979 via the east ridge by Japanese climbers.