As the aircraft takes off and heads towards the east,
you don’t have to wait too long to find out what's in store for
you. First to your far left, you see Gosaithan, also called
Shisha Pangma, standing at the majestic height of 8,013m.
Immediately to the right of Gosaithan, there appears Dorje
Lhakpa (6,966m), a mountain that looks like the number 8 lying
down and covered with snow. To the right of Dorje Lhakpa is
Phurbi-Chyachu, which looms over the Kathmandu Valley.
As the plane glides along, the mountains come closer and
closer. Next on the vision is Choba-Bhamare, the smallest one of
the lot at 5,933 m but singularly stubborn as it has never been
climbed. Then appears the mountain the mountain that is not only
prominent in sight but also in spirituality Gauri-Shanker. Lord
shiva (Shanker) and his consort Gauri are said to protect this
mountain, at the proud height of 7,134m, and the summit had a
history of unsuccessful attempts till 1979. Gauri-Shanker is
sharp and very conspicuous during th amountain flight. As the
plane moves towards the land of rising sun, the eastern
Himalaya, a succession of glorious mountains follow. Melungtse,
a plateau-like mountain, stretches up to 7,023m. Chugimago at
6,297 m is still a virgin, waiting to be climbed. At 6,956m,
Numbur mountain resembles a breast, the maternal source in the
sky providing pure milk Sherpas of the Solukhumbu. Next is
Karyolung, an intensely white mountain that at 6,511 m gleams
with the rising sun. Cho-Oyu is the sixth highest mountain in
the world. Reaching a height of 8,201 m, it appears stunningly
beautiful from the aircraft.
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