Tallest Mountains in Bhutan
Bhutan features some of the highest, most rugged peaks in the Eastern Himalayas; however, it is not a mountaineering destination like Nepal. Interestingly, mountaineering is banned in Nepal. Local beliefs revere the high peaks as the sacred homes of protective deities and spirits. The government enacted the ban out of respect for local spiritual customs and to avoid angering the gods.
The progression of the bans:
- 1994: The government prohibited climbing any peaks over 6,000 meters.
- 2003: The ban was expanded to forbid all mountaineering of any kind across the country.
Because of these restrictions, Bhutan is home to Gangkhar Puensum (7,570 meters / 24,836 feet), which is widely recognized as the highest unclimbed peak in the world. The table below ranks the tallest mountains located entirely within or on the border of Bhutan:
| Rank | Mountain Peak | Elevation (m) | Elevation (ft) | Location / Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gangkhar Puensum | 7,570 | 24,836 | Bhutan–China Border (Highest unclimbed peak) |
| 2 | Kula Kangri | 7,538 | 24,731 | Northern Border (Often disputed/claimed by Tibet) |
| 3 | Liangkang Kangri | 7,534 | 24,718 | Bhutan–China Border (Subsidiary peak of Gangkhar) |
| 4 | Jomolhari | 7,326 | 24,035 | Thimphu / Border with Tibet |
| 5 | Kangphu Kang I | 7,220 | 23,688 | Punakha District |
| 6 | Tongshanjiabu | 7,207 | 23,645 | Punakha District / Border with China |
| 7 | Masang Kang | 7,194 | 23,599 | Gasa District (Jigme Dorji National Park) |
| 8 | Chomolhari Kang | 7,121 | 23,363 | Punakha District |
| 9 | Table Mountain (Zongophu Kang) | 7,100 | 23,294 | Lunana Region |
| 10 | Jejekangphu Kang | 6,965 | 22,851 | Gasa District |