Highest Mountain Peaks in India: Quick Answer
Kangchenjunga (8,586 m) is the highest peak associated with India and the standard exam answer to "highest peak in India". It stands on the Sikkim–Nepal border and is the world's third-highest mountain. Nanda Devi (7,816 m) is the highest peak lying entirely within India's borders, in Uttarakhand. K2 (8,611 m) is taller than both, but it stands in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) — administered by Pakistan and claimed by India — so it is not counted as an Indian peak in the usual exam sense.
🔥 Key Exam Takeaway: Three answers, three qualifiers — K2 8,611 m (tallest in claimed territory, in PoK) > Kangchenjunga 8,586 m (standard answer, Sikkim–Nepal border, world's 3rd) > Nanda Devi 7,816 m (highest entirely within India, Uttarakhand, world's 23rd). Never call Kangchenjunga "entirely within India" — that is Nanda Devi. Mount Everest (8,849 m) is the world's highest peak, but it is in Nepal, not India.
Why do different books give different answers? Because exam keys split on what "India" means in the question. Keys that count India's claimed territory answer K2; keys that mean peaks on ground India holds answer Kangchenjunga; and keys that add the words "entirely within India" answer Nanda Devi. The question's exact wording decides the answer, so this page gives you all three with the qualifier spelled out. All figures on this page are as of 7 November 2026.
How to Answer the "Highest Peak in India" Question
Read the question twice before you pick an option, because this topic is a trap in almost every SSC and banking paper. The same four words can have three correct answers depending on the qualifier.
If the question says "highest peak in India" with no qualifier, the standard SSC and banking answer is Kangchenjunga (8,586 m). Most keys from Guidely, JagranJosh, PW.Live, PracticeMock and Prepp use this answer, explicitly excluding PoK. If the question says "highest peak in India" and one of the options is K2 with a note about PoK, some keys — Testbook and LotusArise among them — answer K2 (8,611 m), because they count India's claimed territory. And if the question says "highest peak entirely within India" or "wholly within India", the answer is always Nanda Devi (7,816 m), because Kangchenjunga straddles the Nepal border and K2 is in PoK.
A related trap is the height of Kangchenjunga itself. Some older sources give 8,598 m, but the standard figure used by Wikipedia and the Survey of India convention, and by most exam lists, is 8,586 m — use 8,586 m in the exam hall and treat 8,598 m as an older or alternative survey figure. Nanda Devi is sometimes written as 7,817 m; the standard figure is 7,816 m, a one-metre difference that no exam key will test you on.
The other thing to fix in your mind is the geography. The great 8,000-metre peaks sit in two ranges: the Himalaya and the Karakoram. The Karakoram, home to K2 and most of the top ten, runs through Ladakh and Gilgit-Baltistan, and several of its peaks sit on or near the Line of Control. South of the Himalaya, the heights drop sharply — the highest peak of peninsular India, Anamudi, is only 2,695 m — and that contrast is itself a favourite exam question.
Top 10 Highest Peaks Associated with India
This table follows the K2-inclusive convention most exam sources use, with the territorial note attached to K2 and the Karakoram rows. Heights are in metres.
| # | Peak | Height (m) | Range | State / region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | K2 (Godwin-Austen) | 8,611 | Karakoram | Gilgit-Baltistan (PoK — administered by Pakistan, claimed by India) |
| 2 | Kangchenjunga | 8,586 | Himalaya (Eastern) | Sikkim–Nepal border |
| 3 | Nanda Devi | 7,816 | Garhwal Himalaya | Uttarakhand |
| 4 | Kamet | 7,756 | Garhwal Himalaya | Uttarakhand |
| 5 | Saltoro Kangri | 7,742 | Karakoram (Saltoro) | Ladakh (Siachen region) |
| 6 | Saser Kangri I | 7,672 | Karakoram (Saser Muztagh) | Ladakh |
| 7 | Mamostong Kangri | 7,516 | Karakoram (Rimo Muztagh) | Ladakh |
| 8 | Saser Kangri II East | 7,513 | Karakoram (Saser Muztagh) | Ladakh |
| 9 | Saser Kangri III | 7,495 | Karakoram (Saser Muztagh) | Ladakh |
| 10 | Teram Kangri I | 7,462 | Karakoram (Siachen) | Ladakh |
Three things stand out. First, the top two are separated by just 25 metres — K2 at 8,611 m and Kangchenjunga at 8,586 m — which is exactly why the qualifier matters so much. Second, Uttarakhand owns the next two places after Kangchenjunga: Nanda Devi and Kamet are both Garhwal Himalaya peaks. Third, six of the top ten are Karakoram peaks in Ladakh, in the Siachen region and the Saser and Rimo ranges. For those rows, say "Ladakh (Karakoram)" and do not over-claim their exact administrative placement, because several sit on or near the Line of Control.
Highest Peak of Each Major Mountain Range
Range-wise questions are the second favourite format after the state-wise list, and they are easier to revise because there are only eight pairs to learn.
| Range | Highest peak | Height (m) | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| Himalaya (India-associated) | Kangchenjunga | 8,586 | Sikkim |
| Karakoram | K2 | 8,611 | Gilgit-Baltistan (PoK) |
| Western Ghats | Anamudi | 2,695 | Kerala |
| Eastern Ghats | Arma Konda (Jindhagada) | 1,680 | Andhra Pradesh |
| Nilgiri Hills | Doddabetta | 2,637 | Tamil Nadu |
| Aravalli Range | Guru Shikhar | 1,722 | Rajasthan |
| Satpura Range | Dhupgarh | 1,352 | Madhya Pradesh |
| Vindhya Range | Sadbhavna Shikhar (Kalumar / Goodwill Peak) | 752 | Madhya Pradesh |
Anamudi deserves a special note: at 2,695 m it is the highest peak in peninsular India and in the Western Ghats, and it is often called the "Everest of South India". It stands inside Eravikulam National Park in Kerala. Guru Shikhar, at 1,722 m near Mount Abu in Rajasthan, is the highest point of the Aravalli Range, the world's oldest fold mountain range — and students constantly confuse the peak (Guru Shikhar) with the hill station next to it (Mount Abu). The same confusion happens in Madhya Pradesh, where Dhupgarh is the peak and Pachmarhi is the hill station town nearby.
Highest Peak in Every State and Union Territory (Complete List)
This is the complete state-wise table — 28 states and 8 union territories. Heights are in metres. Rows marked † are disputed: the figure given is the most widely cited one in exam lists, and the dispute is explained in the notes below the table. Three rows are left without a settled height on purpose, because the sources name different peaks and no reliable geographical source settles the question — guessing would be worse than saying so.
| State / UT | Highest peak | Range / region | Height (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andhra Pradesh | Arma Konda (Jindhagada) | Eastern Ghats | 1,680 |
| Arunachal Pradesh | Kangto | Eastern Himalaya | 7,060 |
| Assam | Disputed — see note † | Barail Range, Dima Hasao | No settled figure † |
| Bihar | Someshwar Fort | Shivalik Hills | 880 |
| Chhattisgarh | Gaurlata | Surguja Hills | 1,225 |
| Goa | Sonsogor | Western Ghats | 1,166 |
| Gujarat | Girnar † | Girnar Hills | 1,117 † |
| Haryana | Karoh Peak † | Morni Hills | 1,467 † |
| Himachal Pradesh | Reo Purgyil | Western Himalaya | 6,816 |
| Jharkhand | Parasnath † | Parasnath Hills | 1,365 † |
| Karnataka | Mullayanagiri | Western Ghats (Baba Budan Giri) | 1,930 |
| Kerala | Anamudi | Anaimalai Hills (Western Ghats) | 2,695 |
| Madhya Pradesh | Dhupgarh | Satpura Range | 1,352 |
| Maharashtra | Kalsubai | Western Ghats (Sahyadri) | 1,646 |
| Manipur | Mount Tempü (Iso) | Purvanchal Hills | 2,994 |
| Meghalaya | Shillong Peak | Khasi Hills | 1,965 |
| Mizoram | Phawngpui (Blue Mountain) | Lushai Hills | 2,157 |
| Nagaland | Mount Saramati | Naga Hills | 3,841 |
| Odisha | Deomali | Eastern Ghats | 1,672 |
| Punjab | No major peak — see note † | Low Shivalik ridge | No settled figure † |
| Rajasthan | Guru Shikhar | Aravalli Range | 1,722 |
| Sikkim | Kangchenjunga | Eastern Himalaya | 8,586 |
| Tamil Nadu | Doddabetta | Nilgiri Hills | 2,637 |
| Telangana | Doli Gutta | Deccan Plateau | 965 |
| Tripura | Betlingchhip | Jampui Hills | 930 |
| Uttar Pradesh | Disputed — see note † | Shivalik Hills | No settled figure † |
| Uttarakhand | Nanda Devi | Garhwal Himalaya | 7,816 |
| West Bengal | Sandakphu | Singalila Ridge | 3,636 |
| Jammu & Kashmir / disputed territory | K2 † | Karakoram | 8,611 |
| Ladakh | Saltoro Kangri | Karakoram (Saltoro) | 7,742 |
| Andaman & Nicobar Islands | Saddle Peak | North Andaman Island | 732 |
| Delhi | Bhatti Mines Ridge | Delhi Ridge | ~322 (approx.) |
| Chandigarh, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, Lakshadweep, Puducherry | — | — | No notable peak — low-lying / coastal |
Notes on the disputed rows. For Assam, different lists name different peaks: Tumjang (also written Jhingtubum) at about 1,866–1,867 m, and an unnamed peak near Laike in Dima Hasao district at 1,959–1,960 m. No Survey of India or Assam government figure was available to settle it, so neither height is presented as final here. For Punjab, a plains state, lists disagree on what counts at all — Chilwali Ghar (520 m) against the Naina Devi range at about 1,000 m — so the honest entry is "no major peak; highest point is a low Shivalik ridge". For Uttar Pradesh, the two cited peaks are Amsot (957 m) and Sonkar (800 m), again unsettled. Girnar (Gujarat) is cited as 1,117 m, 1,069 m and 1,100 m across sources; 1,117 m is the most common exam-list figure. Karoh Peak (Haryana) is cited as 1,467 m and 1,499 m; 1,467 m leads. Parasnath (Jharkhand) is cited as 1,365 m and 1,382 m; 1,365 m, the widely cited figure for Parasnath Hill, leads. Smaller one-metre differences — Nanda Devi 7,816 vs 7,817 m, Doddabetta 2,637 vs 2,636 m, Mount Saramati 3,841 vs 3,842 m, Betlingchhip 930 vs 939 m, Saddle Peak 732 vs 737 m — are noted here and not worth revising twice. K2 is listed in a separate disputed-territory row rather than assigned to a union territory, because older tables put it under Jammu & Kashmir and newer ones under Ladakh after the 2019 reorganisation; Ladakh's own highest peak is Saltoro Kangri.
The pattern worth noticing is the north–south gap. The Himalayan states — Sikkim, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Arunachal Pradesh — hold peaks above 6,800 m, while most peninsular states top out below 2,700 m. That single contrast answers a whole family of "which is higher" questions.
Records, Firsts and Facts That Get Asked
| Record | Answer |
|---|---|
| Highest peak associated with India (standard exam answer) | Kangchenjunga, 8,586 m (Sikkim–Nepal border; world's 3rd highest) |
| Highest peak entirely within India | Nanda Devi, 7,816 m (Uttarakhand; world's 23rd highest) |
| Tallest peak in India's claimed territory | K2, 8,611 m (PoK; world's 2nd highest) |
| Highest peak in South India / peninsular India | Anamudi, 2,695 m (Kerala; "Everest of South India") |
| Highest peak of the Western Ghats | Anamudi, 2,695 m |
| Highest peak of the Eastern Ghats | Arma Konda, 1,680 m (Andhra Pradesh) |
| Highest point in West Bengal | Sandakphu, 3,636 m — famous for the four-peak view of Everest, Kangchenjunga, Lhotse and Makalu |
| Highest point in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands | Saddle Peak, 732 m (North Andaman) |
| World's highest peak (not Indian) | Mount Everest, 8,849 m (Nepal) |
One-line facts that are asked in exams
- Kangchenjunga: its name means "Five Treasures of Snow" and it has five summits; it is sacred to Sikkim's Lepcha and Bhutia communities; Kangchenjunga National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site (mixed, 2016). First climbed in 1955 by a British expedition (Joe Brown and George Band reached the summit on 25 May 1955).
- Nanda Devi: Nanda Devi National Park and the Valley of Flowers are UNESCO World Heritage Sites (1988 and 2005), and the peak sits inside the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve. First climbed in 1936 (Noel Odell and Bill Tilman, 29 August 1936).
- K2: also called Godwin-Austen and the "Savage Mountain"; it stands in the Karakoram in the Baltistan region. First climbed in 1954 by an Italian expedition (Achille Compagnoni and Lino Lacedelli, 31 July 1954).
- Anamudi: inside Eravikulam National Park, Kerala — revise it with the national parks list.
- Guru Shikhar: highest point of the Aravalli Range, near Mount Abu, Rajasthan.
- Sandakphu (3,636 m): the highest point in West Bengal, on the Singalila Ridge.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Calling K2 "India's highest peak" without the PoK qualifier — or calling Kangchenjunga the highest "entirely within India" (that is Nanda Devi).
- Calling Everest an Indian peak. It is in Nepal; it is the world's highest, not India's.
- Saying Anamudi is the highest peak of the Eastern Ghats. It is the Western Ghats; the Eastern Ghats' highest is Arma Konda.
- Mixing up Doddabetta (Nilgiri Hills, Tamil Nadu, 2,637 m) with Anamudi (Anaimalai Hills, Kerala, 2,695 m).
- Saying "Kangchenjunga is in Nepal" (it straddles the Sikkim–Nepal border; its southern slopes are in India) or "Kangchenjunga is entirely in India" (wrong — it is shared with Nepal).
- Confusing Guru Shikhar with Mount Abu: Guru Shikhar is the peak (1,722 m); Mount Abu is the hill station next to it.
- Confusing Dhupgarh with Pachmarhi: Dhupgarh is the peak; Pachmarhi is the hill station and town nearby.
- Using the old Kangchenjunga height of 8,598 m. The standard figure is 8,586 m.
How to Remember the Peaks (Study Method)
- Learn the K-N-K chain first: K2 (8,611) > Kangchenjunga (8,586) > Nanda Devi (7,816) — descending heights, descending controversy. If you remember the order, you remember the trap.
- Learn the "KAN" trio: K2, KAnchenjunga and KAmet open the top ten at 8,611, 8,586 and 7,756 m — all three start with K.
- Learn the South India ladder: Anamudi 2,695 (Kerala) > Doddabetta 2,637 (Tamil Nadu) > Mullayanagiri 1,930 (Karnataka) — the three southern state peaks in height order, all Western Ghats or Nilgiri.
- Learn the range–peak pairs as one unit: Aravalli–Guru Shikhar, Satpura–Dhupgarh, Western Ghats–Anamudi, Eastern Ghats–Arma Konda, Nilgiri–Doddabetta. Exams ask the pair either way round.
- Remember "Saddle 732": Saddle Peak in the Andamans is 732 m — the only island peak in the table, and the smallest headline height.
Highest Mountain Peaks in India MCQs with Answers
Q1. Which is the highest mountain peak in India (standard exam answer)? (a) K2 (b) Kangchenjunga (c) Nanda Devi (d) Mount Everest Answer: (b) Kangchenjunga (8,586 m), on the Sikkim–Nepal border.
Q2. Which is the highest peak located entirely within India? (a) Kangchenjunga (b) K2 (c) Nanda Devi (d) Kamet Answer: (c) Nanda Devi (7,816 m), Uttarakhand.
Q3. Which is the second-highest mountain in the world, and where is it? (a) Kangchenjunga, Sikkim (b) K2, Karakoram in PoK (c) Nanda Devi, Uttarakhand (d) Kamet, Uttarakhand Answer: (b) K2 (8,611 m), Karakoram, in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
Q4. What is the highest peak in South India? (a) Doddabetta (b) Mullayanagiri (c) Anamudi (d) Arma Konda Answer: (c) Anamudi (2,695 m), Kerala.
Q5. Which is the highest peak of the Western Ghats? (a) Arma Konda (b) Anamudi (c) Doddabetta (d) Mullayanagiri Answer: (b) Anamudi (2,695 m).
Q6. Which is the highest peak of the Eastern Ghats? (a) Anamudi (b) Doddabetta (c) Arma Konda (d) Deomali Answer: (c) Arma Konda / Jindhagada (1,680 m), Andhra Pradesh.
Q7. Which is the highest peak of the Aravalli Range? (a) Guru Shikhar (b) Mount Abu (c) Dhupgarh (d) Kalsubai Answer: (a) Guru Shikhar (1,722 m), Rajasthan.
Q8. Which is the highest peak of the Satpura Range? (a) Pachmarhi (b) Dhupgarh (c) Amarkantak (d) Sadbhavna Shikhar Answer: (b) Dhupgarh (1,352 m), Madhya Pradesh.
Q9. Which is the highest peak in Tamil Nadu? (a) Anamudi (b) Doddabetta (c) Mullayanagiri (d) Kodaikanal Answer: (b) Doddabetta (2,637 m), Nilgiri Hills.
Q10. Which is the highest peak in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands? (a) Mount Harriet (b) Saddle Peak (c) Mount Thuillier (d) Barren Island Answer: (b) Saddle Peak (732 m), North Andaman Island.
Highest Mountain Peaks in India FAQs
Is K2 or Kangchenjunga the highest peak in India?
Kangchenjunga (8,586 m) is the standard exam answer. K2 (8,611 m) is taller, but it lies in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, administered by Pakistan and claimed by India, so most SSC and banking keys do not count it as an Indian peak.
Which is the highest peak entirely within India?
Nanda Devi, 7,816 m, in Uttarakhand. Kangchenjunga straddles the Sikkim–Nepal border, so it does not qualify as "entirely within India".
What is the height of Kangchenjunga?
8,586 m. Some older sources say 8,598 m; 8,586 m is the standard figure used by Wikipedia and the Survey of India convention.
Which is the highest peak in South India?
Anamudi, 2,695 m, in Kerala — the highest peak of the Western Ghats and of peninsular India, inside Eravikulam National Park.
Which is the highest peak of the Eastern Ghats?
Arma Konda (Jindhagada), 1,680 m, in Andhra Pradesh.
What is the highest peak in Rajasthan?
Guru Shikhar, 1,722 m, in the Aravalli Range near Mount Abu.
Which is the highest peak in the world?
Mount Everest (8,849 m), in Nepal — not an Indian peak.
Related topics: revise Mountain Passes of India List, States and Capitals of India 2026, National Parks in India List 2026, UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India 2026, UNESCO Tentative List of India 2026, Indian Rivers Origin and End List, Waterfalls in India List, GI Tags in India 2026 and List of Governors and Chief Ministers of Indian States 2026 next. Also see International Airports in India.
Practice Next
- Test yourself: SSC CGL General Awareness Sectional Mock Test 01
- More geography practice: SSC CGL Geography Mock Test 01
- Railways GA practice: RRB NTPC Geography Mock Test 01
- More free notes: All Study Notes
Sources: Wikipedia "List of mountains in India"; PracticeMock state-wise highest peaks list 2026; Testbook "Highest Peak in India 2026"; JagranJosh top-10 peaks list; Guidely highest peak in India; PW.Live highest peak in India; GKToday mountain ranges and highest peaks; Alpine Journal record of first ascents (K2 31 July 1954; Kangchenjunga 25 May 1955; Nanda Devi 29 August 1936). Disputed state rows (Assam, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Girnar, Karoh Peak, Parasnath) are marked as unverified in the table notes. As of 7 November 2026.