Indira Col
Encyclopedia
The Indira Col is a col
on the Indira Ridge in the Siachen Muztagh
in the Karakoram Range. It is within a couple kilometers of a tripoint
where territories controlled by India
, Pakistan
and China
meet.
The col is a saddle between the Siachen Glacier
to the south and the Urdok Glacier to the north, on the watershed between the Indus River
basin and the Tarim Basin
. The peak of Sia Kangri
is 3 km to the west. It may be too steep to easily descend north from the col to the Urdok Glacier.
The term Indira Col has also been applied to another, higher col 2.4 km further east on the Indira Ridge at (altitude 5988 metres (19,645.7 ft)) , from which it is possible to descend to the north. This eastern col was named Indira Col in 1912 by Bullock Workman
, after one of the names of the goddess Lakshmi
.
Colonel Narendra "Bull" Kumar reached Indira Col (the western col) in 1981. In 1998 Harish Kapadia
reached the same col; on his map and text he refers to it as the "main Indira Col" and "Indira Col West", showing the col 2.4 km to the east as "Indira Col East (Workman)."
The Indira Col is a couple kilometers east of the point (about a km southeast of the Sia Kangri Peak) where the Actual Ground Position Line
between Indian and Pakistani forces meets the border with China. Territories on all sides are disputed. The land immediately to the south of the col is claimed by both Pakistan and India and controlled by India. The land to the north is part of the Trans Karakoram Tract, controlled by China under a 1963 border agreement with Pakistan but claimed by India.
Mountain pass
A mountain pass is a route through a mountain range or over a ridge. If following the lowest possible route, a pass is locally the highest point on that route...
on the Indira Ridge in the Siachen Muztagh
Siachen Muztagh
The Siachen Muztagh is a remote subrange of the eastern Karakoram Range. Close to 60% is in area controlled by China, 40% in area controlled by India. Pakistan claims the Indian-controlled portion as part of the Siachen Conflict. India claims the Chinese-controlled portion. India administers its...
in the Karakoram Range. It is within a couple kilometers of a tripoint
Tripoint
A tripoint, or trijunction , is a geographical point at which the borders of three countries or subnational entities meet....
where territories controlled by India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
and China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
meet.
The col is a saddle between the Siachen Glacier
Siachen Glacier
The Siachen Glacier is located in the eastern Karakoram range in the Himalaya Mountains at about , just east of the Line of Control between India-Pakistan. India controls all of the Siachen Glacier itself, including all tributary glaciers. At long, it is the longest glacier in the Karakoram and...
to the south and the Urdok Glacier to the north, on the watershed between the Indus River
Indus River
The Indus River is a major river which flows through Pakistan. It also has courses through China and India.Originating in the Tibetan plateau of western China in the vicinity of Lake Mansarovar in Tibet Autonomous Region, the river runs a course through the Ladakh district of Jammu and Kashmir and...
basin and the Tarim Basin
Tarim Basin
The Tarim Basin is a large endorheic basin occupying an area of about . It is located in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in China's far west. Its northern boundary is the Tian Shan mountain range and its southern is the Kunlun Mountains on the northern edge of the Tibetan Plateau. The...
. The peak of Sia Kangri
Sia Kangri
Sia Kangri is a mountain in the Baltoro Muztagh in the Karakoram. Its summit is on the Tibet and Pakistan border. It is the 63rd highest mountain in the world, and the 25th highest in Pakistan. The peak is on the watershed between the Indus River basin and the Tarim Basin...
is 3 km to the west. It may be too steep to easily descend north from the col to the Urdok Glacier.
The term Indira Col has also been applied to another, higher col 2.4 km further east on the Indira Ridge at (altitude 5988 metres (19,645.7 ft)) , from which it is possible to descend to the north. This eastern col was named Indira Col in 1912 by Bullock Workman
Fanny Bullock Workman
Fanny Bullock Workman was an American geographer, cartographer, explorer, and mountaineer, notably in the Himalayas. She was born in Worcester, Massachusetts and usually travelled in conjunction with her husband Dr. William Hunter Workman...
, after one of the names of the goddess Lakshmi
Lakshmi
Lakshmi or Lakumi is the Hindu goddess of wealth, prosperity , light, wisdom, fortune, fertility, generosity and courage; and the embodiment of beauty, grace and charm. Representations of Lakshmi are also found in Jain monuments...
.
Colonel Narendra "Bull" Kumar reached Indira Col (the western col) in 1981. In 1998 Harish Kapadia
Harish Kapadia
Harish Kapadia is a distinguished Himalayan Mountaineer from India. He has been awarded the Patron's Medal of the Royal Geographic Society, UK and the Life Time Achievement Award for Adventure by the President of India and the King Albert Mountain Award presented by The King Albert I Memorial...
reached the same col; on his map and text he refers to it as the "main Indira Col" and "Indira Col West", showing the col 2.4 km to the east as "Indira Col East (Workman)."
The Indira Col is a couple kilometers east of the point (about a km southeast of the Sia Kangri Peak) where the Actual Ground Position Line
Actual Ground Position Line
The Actual Ground Position Line refers to the current position that divides Indian and Pakistani troops at the Siachen Glacier. The line extends from the northernmost point of the LOC to Indira Col.-History:...
between Indian and Pakistani forces meets the border with China. Territories on all sides are disputed. The land immediately to the south of the col is claimed by both Pakistan and India and controlled by India. The land to the north is part of the Trans Karakoram Tract, controlled by China under a 1963 border agreement with Pakistan but claimed by India.