Northern Tip of India
India is counted as the seventh-largest country in the world. Our country is distinguished apart from the rest of continent Asia by the mighty mountains and the vast seas. These features add to a distinct geographical landmark of India. Among these features, we have the Northernmost point of India. Now, which is the northernmost point of India? The northernmost point of India is Siachen Glacier in the State of Jammu & Kashmir. This point is under the Line of Actual Control which is currently under dispute. Dafdar, located in the Taghdumbash Pamir Near Beyik Pass in Kanjut in POK, also comes under the northernmost part of India.
Let us explore the northernmost tip of India further in this content!
Siachen Glacier and Dafdar – India’s Northernmost Point
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The Siachen Glacier of the State of Jammu & Kashmir can be found in the northernmost point of India. This region comes under the Line of Actual control of the Sino-Indian border; the region is under dispute. You can find Siachen Glacier in the eastern Karakoram range, which is in the Himalaya Mountains (approximately 35°25′16″N 77°06′34″E). Also, as mentioned, the place Dafdar of Taghdumbash Pamir Near Beyik Pass in Kanjut in POK is also the North point of India.
Indira Col
Where did the name ‘Indira Col’ come from?
The Indira Col in India is situated at an approximate altitude of about 5,764 meters or 18,911 when measured in ft. in the Siachen Muztagh. This place is located in the Karakoram Range. There are two Cols in this region – one which is on the eastern side and another on the western side. The Eastern Col is named ‘Indira Col’ in 1912 by Bullock Workman. He named ‘India Col’ after one of the names of the goddess Lakshmi.
The Extreme East Point of India – Indira Col
Indira Col is located in the extreme eastern point of India, near the place called Kibithu in Anjaw district of the state Arunachal Pradesh while the extreme west point is called Sir Creek in the Kutch region, while this is located near the “Guhar Moti”, which is in the state of Gujarat. Thus, the northern point of India is called the Indira Col, while the southernmost point is called the “Indira Point”, which is located in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. This term Indira Col is also of another higher col’s name. This col is 2.4 km further situated on the east side of the Indira Ridge at an altitude of 5,988 meters or 19,646 ft.
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General Facts to Know About Northernmost Part of India
The Indira Col is located on the west side from an approximate distance of 3 km of Sia Kangri, this is the summit that serves as a boundary of India, Pakistan, and China.
This is a common mistake to think that ‘India Col’ is named after our late Prime Minister Mrs. Indira Gandhi. Well, this name is given by Bullock Workman in the year 1912 after one of the names of Goddess Lakshmi.
Colonel Narendra Bull Kumar is the name of a mountaineer who reached the West Indira Col in the year 1981. Another mountaineer named Harish Kapadia reached the same Col in the year 1998.
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In this region, the average winter snowfall falls more than 35 ft with a temperature dropping up to −50 °C in this region.
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Both India and Pakistan claimed the southern side of India Col while it is being controlled by India.
The northern part of Indira Col is a part where the Trans-Karakoram Tract is located; this region is controlled by China which comes under an agreement of the year 1963 this was a border agreement with Pakistan but was claimed by India.
The distance which is located between India's northernmost point (that is the Indira Cole) and the southernmost point-mainland (which is at Kanyakumari) is approximately 3,065 measured in KM.
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Indira Col in British India
In the year 1889, the British raj army officer and their explorer named Francis Younghusband reached the base of the Turkestan La (in the Northern region) from the north side. Here, they noted that Indira Col was a long glacier that demarcated as a major Central Asian dividing range.
A colonel named Narendra “Bull” Kumar had reached the western Indira Col in the year 1981 , and in the year 1998, Harish Kapadia reached the same spot. Narendra Bull referred to this mainland as the "main Indira Col" and the western part as "Indira Col West", whereas he refers to the col which is 2.4 km towards the eastern side named as "Indira Col East."
In the year 1984, Operation Meghdoot was carried out where many Indian soldiers travelled across the Siachen glaciers. Also, they passed through many peaks, including Indira Col.
After this Harish Kapadia and his men explored many peaks in this area, they also explored many passes and the ranges, subranges of the Siachen area were also visited by them.
Areas Under Dispute in the Northern Tip of India
Territories of Indira Col are under dispute. The area which is located south of the Indira Col West is presently controlled by India, while claimed by both India and Pakistan. North of the Indira Col West is the Trans-Karakoram Tract which is being claimed by India but is controlled by the country China under an agreement of 1963 with Pakistan.
The AGPL ranges along the side of Saltoro Mountains which begins from the northern region of LOC and ends in the northwest region of Indira Col West in the north. These peaks are in excess of 7,000 meters, and the average low temperatures here goes almost minus 50 Celsius.
India gains control of around 1,000 square miles (which is approximately 2,600 km2) of disputed territory in the year 1984 because of the armed operations in the Siachen area.
How Would You Describe the Geographical Location of Indira Col?
The Indira Col is located on the India-China-Pakistan border. Here the tri-junction of the India-China-Pakistan controlled area is situated.
Features of Indira Ridge
Indira Ridge extends from west to east, having the following featured areas:
Sia Kangri
Indira Col West
India Saddle
Indira Col East,
Turkestan La (of North)
Turkestan La (of East)
India Saddle
Between the Indira Col West and in Indira Col East is the India Saddle. The area can also be marked between the Siachen Glacier to the south and the Urdok Glacier towards the northern side in the Shaksgam (of the Trans-Karakoram Tract). This is the watershed between the Indus River basin and the Tarim Basin. Indian Saddle is steep enough. Travelers and army troops pay extra care while descending north from the col to the Urdok Glacier.
What is the Topography like in the Siachen Glacier?
The main area of the Siachen Glacier flows from the northern to the southern area into the Indian region. This begins from the southern slope of the Indira Col West. While the Urdok Glacier flows from the south to the northern side into the Trans-Karakoram Tract, which is held by the country China, this begins from the northern slope of Indira Col West, and it has its subbranches in Urdok. The glacier in this region flows from the north towards the northwest from the northern slope of India Col East, and the Urdok II glacier flows north to northwest from the northern slope of Turkmenistan La North.
Did You Know?
Indira Col is located on the western side from a distance of 3 km of the Sia Kangri region to its summit, which has the limit in India, Pakistan, and the country China.
India Col was named by the "Mass Workman" in the year 1912 in honor of Goddess Lakshmi.
3. Colonel Narendra "Bull" Kumar achieved West Indira Col in 1981, while Harish Kapadia came to at the same spot as Col in the year 1998.
This area experiences cold winter snowfall where temperatures can go beyond -50 ° C in this area.
The southern region is controlled by our country India. Also, we share the region with our neighbor, Pakistan.
The Land toward the northern side of Indira Col is a piece of the Trans-Karakoram Tract, which is constrained by China under the 1963 outskirt concurrence with Pakistan yet which is asserted by the country India.
The area of separation between India's northernmost point (named the Indira Cole) and the southernmost point-territory (that is, Kanyakumari) is around 3,065 KM.
FAQs on Northernmost Point of India
1. Which is the southern and northern tip of India?
The extreme east point of India is near the Kibithu in the Anjaw district of the state Arunachal Pradesh while the extreme west point is called Sir Creek, which is located in the Kutch area. It is located near the “Guhar Moti” in the state of Gujarat, and this is the northern point of India, which is known as Indira Col., while the southernmost point of India is called the “Indira Point” in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
2. In which state Indira Col is located?
Indira Col is located in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Here the land is occupied (from the year 1947) by Pakistan, which was gifted (in the year 1963) to the country China. The existing Line of Control runs from the state of Manawar in the state of Jammu to the Indira Col on the tri-junction of Karakoram Mountain range.
