Gobinda Prasad Pokharel
Today, a photograph released by the Rastriya Samachar Samiti (RSS) caught my eye. It was a captivating shot of Kumbhakarna Himal. Struck by its beauty, I found myself digging deeper into the story behind this peak. What I discovered was a fascinating blend of culture, mythology and mountaineering history that I felt compelled to share.
While many of us know it as Kumbhakarna (or internationally as Jannu), the indigenous Limbu community calls this mountain ‘Phoktanglungma.’
The etymology is beautiful in its simplicity: in the Limbu language, ‘Phoktang’ means ‘shoulder’ and ‘Lungma’ means ‘mountain.’ The name perfectly describes its physical structure which resembles a massive human shoulder. For the Limbu people, this is not just a geographical feature but a deity and a sacred site of worship. The mountain holds such significance in the district that a local government body, Phoktanglung Rural Municipality (currently chaired by Mr. Rajan Limbu), is named after it.
For Hindus, the mountain is linked to the Ramayana. It is named after Kumbhakarna, the giant brother of Ravana, known for sleeping for months at a time.
The name is incredibly fitting. If you view the mountain from Phungling (the district headquarters of Taplejung) or nearby ridges, the skyline creates the silhouette of a colossal man lying on his back—a sleeping giant forever resting in the Himalayas.
Rising to an elevation of 7,710 meters Kumbhakarna is the 32nd highest peak in the world. Situated to the west of the Kangchenjunga himal, it acts as a massive barrier, shielding the Kangchenjunga area from strong wind currents.
Despite not being an 8,000-meter peak, it is renowned for its technical difficulty. The first successful ascent was recorded in April 1962 by a French expedition team including René Desmaison. It is important to note the critical role of the Nepalese climbers in this historic feat: the summit team included two legendary Sherpas, Gyalzen Mitchung Sherpa and Wangdi Sherpa.
Even today, Kumbhakarna continues to test the world’s best climbers. Just recently, on October 15 of this year, a new chapter was written in its history. Alpinists Benjamin Védrines and Nicolas Jean successfully summited the mountain via the East Face—a remarkable achievement on a notoriously difficult peak.
Whether you see it as the sacred Phoktanglungma or the sleeping Kumbhakarna, this mountain remains one of the most majestic symbols of Eastern Nepal.
3rd December, 2025