Pisang Peak 6091m

Pisang Peak towers right above the village of Pisang and is classified under the trekking peaks of Nepal by Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA). Anyone with moderate mountaineering skills and experience can attempt to climb this peak. In fact, experienced climbers may not even need ice axes to scale the summit. So if you have some prior mountaineering experience and have dreamt of climbing a mountain in the Himalayas, Pisang peak could be an ideal mountain. Having said that, it does not mean that you take it easy. In 1996, when a Slovenian trekking group made the ascent and were returning from the summit, one of the climbers slipped and fell some 700 m down the steep snow slopes. The 55-year-old Drago Zlof died and was cremated near the Marshyangdi river. So it's not all fun and games. You have to take your precautions. If you do get to the top then you will get spectacular views of the surrounding mountains and Nar Phu valley towards the north will show itself in its entirety. The first ascent was made way back by a German expedition in the year 1955. The ridge of Pisang Peak extends southeast and makes a beautiful stadium like rock formation commonly known as Swargadwari. These huge rock formations look as though somebody polished the surface to make a big slide for the giants to play. For some, it may even look like the inside of a bowl. The local folklore has it that the peak around the stadium like formation is the path to heaven, and hence the name 'Swargadwari' which is why it is also worshipped as a holy mountain by the locals. 'Swarga' means heaven and 'dwar' means gateway.