It wouldn’t be wrong to say that the top 10 highest mountains in Asia are also the top 10 highest mountains in the world. The mighty Himalaya is home to some of the world’s tallest mountain peaks. Even little kids know that Mount Everest is the tallest mountain on the planet with an elevation of 8,848 meters above sea level. But there are many other equally beautiful and majestic mountains in close proximity of Everest – and they are only a few hundred meters smaller than Everest. Most of us have never heard of them. Let’s check out the top 10 highest mountains on the planet.
Top 10 highest mountains in the world
All the mountains listed below belong to the “eight thousanders” club, which consists of 14 mountains that are higher than 8,000 meters. This list includes only summits that are considered individual mountains rather than subsidiary peaks. Most of them are located on the edge of the Indian and Eurasian continental plates. And each of them poses unique challenges to mountaineers. Hundreds of people have died on these mountains while trying to climb to the top.
10- Annapurna I, Nepal
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The Annapurna mountain in Nepal is 8,091 meters above sea level. It’s a massif in the Himalayas, consisting of about 30 mountains each higher than 6,000 meters. The word Annapurna means Goddess of the harvest. Though this mountain is at the bottom of our list, it has one of the highest fatality rates in the world at 41%. The first people to reach the top of Annapurna I were Maurice Herzog and Louis Lachenal in 1950. Only about 200 people have successfully ascended this mountain.
9- Nanga Parbat, Pakistan
Imrankhakwani [CC BY-SA 4.0], from Wikimedia CommonsThe summit of Nanga Parbat is 8,126 meters above sea level, making it one of the top 10 highest mountains in the world. It is located in the Gilgit-Balistan region of Pakistan. The name Nanga Parbat roughly translates to Naked mountain. Its biggest highlight is the Rupal Face that rises 4,600 meters from bottom to the top. The Rupal Face has often been described as the highest mountain face on the planet. Nanga Parbat is one of the most dangerous mountains to climb, earning nicknames such as the “man eater” and “killer mountain.” Hermann Buhl was the first person to ascend it in 1953.
8- Manaslu, Nepal
Pratapgrg [CC BY-SA 4.0], from Wikimedia CommonsManaslu, also known as Kutang, is the 8th highest mountain in the world at 8,163 meters above sea level. It is located only about 40 miles from Annapurna. Japanese mountaineer Toshio Imanishi and Nepal’s Sherpa Gyalzen Norbu were the first to ascend it in 1956. Since then, it has become popular among Japanese adventurers. The name Manaslu means Mountain of the Spirit in Sanskrit. The Manaslu Conservation Area is also home to many endangered animal species such as snow leopards, red pandas, and the Himalayan musk deer.
7- Dhaulagiri I, Nepal
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The Dhaulagiri I summit has an elevation of 8,167 meters, meaning it’s only four meters higher than Manaslu. It was first ascended in 1960 by Kurt Diemberger. Back in 1808, it was crowned as the world’s highest mountain (not a lot of mountains were surveyed by then). It held that title until Kangchenjunga was declared the highest mountain peak in 1838. Mount Everest was found in 1858 to be even higher than all others. About 20% mountaineers who have attempted to summit Dhaulagiri have lost their lives, making it one of the most dangerous mountains in the world.
6- Cho Oyu, Nepal
Mark Horrell [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia CommonsCho Oyu, which translates to Turquoise Goddess in Tibetan, is located on the Nepal and Tibet border. It has the elevation of 8,188 meters above sea level. Its first ascent was completed in 1954. Though it is one of the top 10 highest mountains in the world, it is much easier to climb than other “eight thousanders” due to its moderate slopes and accessibility.
5- Makalu, Nepal
Ben Tubby [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia CommonsJust like Cho Oyu, Makalu is part of the Mahalangur Himalayan range in Nepal. It’s only about 20 kilometers southeast of the might Mount Everest. It is known for its peculiar four-sided pyramid shape. Makalu was first ascended in 1955 by French mountaineers Lionel Terray and Jean Couzy. It is incredibly risky and difficult to climb due to the knife-edge ridges in the latter stages of the ascent.
4- Lhotse, Nepal
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Lhotse is the fourth highest mountain with an elevation of 8,516 meters. It is part of the Everest massif and is located on the Nepal and Tibet border. It was first ascended in 1956 by Swiss mountaineers Ernst Reiss and Fritz Luchsinger, but one of its subsidiary peaks Lhotse Middle (8,410 meters) wasn’t climbed on until 2001. The Middle’s tower-like shape made it difficult to climb.
3- Kangchenjunga, Nepal / India
Johannes Bahrdt [CC BY-SA 4.0], from Wikimedia CommonsKangchenjunga has a difficult to pronounce name, and it is equally difficult to summit. Located about 80 miles from Mount Everest on the border of Nepal and Indian state of Sikkim, Kangchenjunga has an elevation of 8,586 meters. It was first ascended in 1955 by Joe Brown and George Brand. There is a tradition among mountaineers to stop just a few meters short of the summit when ascending the Kangchenjunga. That’s because the first two mountaineers had promised to Nepal’s monarchs that the mountain’s peak would always remain pure.
2- K2 / Godwin Austen, Pakistan
Svy123 [GFDL or CC BY 3.0], from Wikimedia CommonsK2, also known as Godwin Austen or Chhogori, is located on the border between Pakistan and China. Mountaineers usually attempt to climb it from the Pakistani side because the Chinese side is far more dangerous. K2 has an elevation of 8,611 meters. It has the second highest fatality rate in the world, right behind Annapurna in Nepal. About 25% mountaineers who have attempted to climb K2 have lost their lives. It got its name in 1852 with “K” designating Karakoram Range and “2” was added because it was the second peak listed by British surveyor TG Montgomerie.
1- Mount Everest, Nepal
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Mount Everest with an elevation of 8,848 meters is the highest mountain in the world. It is located on the border of Nepal and Tibet. It is also known as Sagarmatha. Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay were the first to summit Mount Everest in 1953. According to some estimates, there are more than 200 dead bodies on Mount Everest. All of them are surprisingly well preserved because of the freezing cold temperature up there. Despite being the tallest mountain the world, it is easier to climb than many others in this list.
