Which is India's 2nd highest peak?

Nanda Devi (7,816 m; 25,643 ft) is India’s second-highest peak. It rises in the Garhwal Himalaya of Uttarakhand and dominates a fortress-like cirque of mountains known as the Nanda Devi Sanctuary.

Location and range. Nanda Devi stands in the Greater Himalaya, roughly between the Rishi Ganga gorge to the west and the Pindar basin to the east. The massif has two principal summits: the main peak (Nanda Devi) and Nanda Devi East (also called Sunanda Devi, 7,434 m), connected by a high ridge.

Why “second highest.” In standard Indian geography texts, Kangchenjunga (8,586 m) on the India–Nepal border is listed as India’s highest peak; Nanda Devi is next. You may see K2 (8,611 m) cited as the subcontinent’s highest, but it lies in the Karakoram outside India’s settled mainland; by the usual school-level convention, Nanda Devi is India’s No. 2.

Climbing history. The first ascent was achieved in 1936 by H. W. “Bill” Tilman and Noel Odell via the Rishi Ganga approach, then considered among the most difficult mountain approaches in the world. After that ascent, Nanda Devi was the highest mountain yet climbed until 1950, when Annapurna I (8,091 m) was summited.

Protection and access. The inner Sanctuary is protected as Nanda Devi National Park (established 1982) and, along with the adjacent Valley of Flowers National Park, forms the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks” (inscribed 1988; extended 2005). To conserve fragile alpine ecosystems, climbing and trekking in the inner Sanctuary have been heavily restricted since 1983, with only limited, regulated access in parts of the outer Sanctuary.

Physical and ecological notes. The peak forms the hub of a high granite ring including Changabang, Dunagiri, Trisul, and other summits. Steep relief and heavy snowfall feed the Rishi Ganga and Dhauli Ganga, headwaters that eventually join the Alaknanda, a major Ganga tributary. The protected area shelters Himalayan flora such as birch, juniper, and alpine meadows, and fauna including Himalayan tahr, musk deer, and snow leopard.

Cultural significance. In Kumaoni and Garhwali traditions, Nanda Devi is revered as a goddess. The Nanda Devi Raj Jat Yatra, a multi-day pilgrimage held at long intervals, reflects this cultural reverence.

Nanda Devi is India’s second-highest peak by elevation within India’s standard geographic listing, notable for its formidable topography, pivotal place in mountaineering history, strict ecological protection, and deep cultural importance.