Tirich Mir

Tirich Mir (alternatively Terich Mir and Terichmir) is the highest mountain in the Hindu Kush region, located in NWFP, Pakistan. The mountain was first climbed in 1950 by a Norwegian expedition consisting of Arne Næss, P. Kvernberg, H. Berg, and Tony Streather.

Tirich Mir overlooks Chitral town. It can easily be seen from the main bazaar. It can also be seen from Afghanistan. According to a local legend, it is impossible to climb it, because of all the Jinns, demons, witches and fairies who live up there.

Almost every year, a few tourists are killed while hiking and trekking around Tirich Mir. Often, they fall down into deep crevasses and their bodies are never found.

The last village in Chitral before reaching Tirich Mir is Village Tirich. It is located in Mulkow. The people there speak the Khowar language. The residents are available for hire as porters and tourist guides and will lead trekkers part way up the mountain, but there is a point beyond which they will not go.

It is believed the origin to the name Tirich Mir is "King of Tirich" as Tirich is the name of a side valley of the Mulkhow valley of Chitral which leads up to Tirich Mir. An alternatively etymology derives its name from the Wakhi language. In Wakhi trich means shadow or darkness and mir means king so Tirich Mir means king of darkness. It could have got this name as it causes long shadows on the wakhan side of its face.

See also

• North-West Frontier Province
• List of mountains in Pakistan
• List of highest mountains

Books

• Keay, John, "The Gilgit Game": The Explorers of the Western Himalayas, 1865-95, Oxford University Press, 1985, ISBN 0-19-577466-3
• Robertson, Sir George Scott, The Kafirs of the Hindukush, Oxford University Press, (1896, OUP edition 1986), ISBN 0-19-577127-3

External links

• Tirich Mir on SummitPost