The Nanga Parbat Massif is the Western anchor of the Great Himalayan Range which stretches from here right upto the Namche Barwa in the East. At 8126 m its also the Ninth Highest Mountain on the Planet and for many Years in the 1800s when Western Explorers first came across this Mountain was considered the highest Mountain in the World. Its local name is Diamer or Deo Mir. One wouldnt blame them due to the sheer perpendiculairty of the Rupal face of the Mountain. The Nanga Parbat Massif consists of a number of different Peaks with the Nanga Parbat being the Highest.
The Peaks of the Nanga Parbat Massif marked
Of course due to the play of History and Politics the Nanga Parbat lies in a part of the former state of Jammu and Kashmir which is under illegal occupation by our Neighbourso we cant really get close to the Peak. But thank God for small mercies that we still have places in the Kashmir Valley from where we can view the "Killer Mountain", named so because of the sheer difficulty it presents to Mountaineers that try and climb this Peak as well as a reference to the great number of People who have lost thier lives while trying to climb this Mountains. Anyways mentioning below a few places in the Kashmir Valley from where one can view the Nanga Parbat.
The Nanga Parbat from the Razdan Pass
First and foremost probably the best view of the complete Massiff is from Gulmarg. Gulmarg is a Meadow in the Pir Panjals at the South Western end of the Valley and the Great Himalayan Range is right across the Valley. Infact technically the Nanga Parbat should be visible from other Meadows in the Pir Panjal. In Gulmarg there is a point called the Nanga Parbat viewpoint. Of course if you move higher to Kongdori or Khilanmarg the view just gets better. Actually even from points below Gulmarg like Kunzer for example you can see the Nanga Parbat on a clear day. Ive even seen an captured the Nanga Parbat while coming down from Tosa Maidan.
The Nanga Parbat on the Horizon while around Gogaldhara
Another point which has great views of the Nanga Parbat is the Zamindar Gali or the Z Gali which connects th rest of the Valley to the Machil area. Actually the Nanga Parbat is visible from all high Points on the Shamshabari Mountains as beyond these Mountains it is by far the most formidable Mountain and dwarfs the entire Geography around. On the Zamindar Gali alos there is a Nanga Parbat view point as well as an observation Tower built for the same.
Hidden in the clouds as seen from the Shamshabari Mountains
Then another place from where you can see the Nanga Parbat is the Razdan Top which connects Kashmir with Gurez. Though only the tip of the Mountain is visible and very few people are aware of the exact point where its visible from. Infact the first time I had gone looking for the Nanga Parbat from the Razdaan Pass I had to use all my Knowledge of Mountain Geography and ofcourse an app helped but still took us sometime to get a view of the Giant. However most peopl who go to Gurez miss this great sight because someone hsto point it out to you otherwise you will just miss it.
A Pic taken from a Flight
Last but not the least you can catch a glimpse of this Giant when your Flight takes off from Srinagar and the day is clear and you know which side to look. Again it just appears for a moment before the Aircraft usually takes a turn towards the opposite direction.
From Gulmarg
Hopefully on your next Trip to Kashmir you would be able to get a Glimpse of this outstanding Mountain.
