Indian Army Mountaineering Expedition Scales Ladakh Peaks

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Indian Army conducted a mountaineering expedition to Mount Shahi Kangri and Mount Silver Peak

By TRH News Desk

NEW DELHI, June 18, 2025 – To promote border area tourism in the Union Territory of Ladakh, the Indian Army conducted a mountaineering expedition to Mount Shahi Kangri and Mount Silver Peak. Flagged off on May 28 this year, the expedition culminated on Wednesday.

The expedition was led by Lt Gen Hitesh Bhalla, GOC Fire and Fury Corps. It honoured the valour of Ladakhi soldiers who laid down their lives during the Galwan conflict.

Comprising 28 highly skilled personnel trained in ice and rock craft, the team demonstrated exceptional endurance and technical prowess in high-altitude mountaineering. The peaks, located in the Karakoram Range southwest of the Depsang Plains, are snowbound year-round and known for their extreme terrain and climate.

Approaching from the southeast, the team chose a shorter but more hazardous route, navigating crevasses, cornices, and glaciers—underscoring both the physical and mental resilience of the soldiers. The expedition not only showcased military excellence but also highlighted the region’s potential for adventure tourism.

Mount Shahi Kangri, standing at 6,934 meters (22,749 feet), is a formidable peak in the Transhimalaya’s western reaches, located in Ladakh’s Leh district, India, near the Shyok River catchment and west of Aksai Chin. With a prominence of 1,644 meters, it ranks among the region’s notable summits. Part of the Karakoram range, its glaciated slopes and severe terrain, marked by crevasses and cornices, pose significant challenges.

The peak remained unclimbed until June 15, 2022, when a 55-member Indian Army team, led by Colonel Shivesh Singh and mentored by Brigadier Saurabh Singh Shekhawat, successfully summited it alongside Mount Silver Peak (6,871 meters) in a two-month expedition. This historic climb, a tribute to Galwan martyrs, showcased exceptional icecraft and endurance, navigating treacherous southeastern routes. The expedition also promotes adventure tourism in Ladakh’s rugged, snowbound landscape

Mount Silver Peak, towering at 6,871 meters (22,543 feet), is a prominent peak in the Karakoram range, located in the rugged Transhimalaya of Ladakh’s Leh district, India, southwest of the Depsang Plains near the Shyok River. This snowbound summit, characterized by treacherous terrain with crevasses, cornices, and glaciers.

In 2020, Indian and Chinese soldiers fought a pitched battle in the Galwan valley. Afterwards, a military standoff lasted almost four years. The meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Kazan, Russia pave way for de-escalation between the two armies.

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