What is the highest mountain in the Hindu Kush?

The highest mountain in the Hindu Kush is Tirich Mir, also spelled Terich Mir, at approximately 7,708 metres.

The mountain is in Chitral District of Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, overlooking the town of Chitral. Its summit rises above the Tirich Valley, whose glaciers feed waterways that eventually join the Chitral River. The mountain is the Hindu Kush’s highest point and the tallest summit outside the combined Himalaya–Karakoram region.

Tirich Mir’s name is often rendered in several ways, including Tirichmir and Turch Mir. “Tirich” refers to the valley, while “mir” means mountain in Khowar. Nearby communities have rich traditions about the peak: Kalash stories associate it with the goddess Krumai, while Chitrali folklore describes it as a realm of fairies.

A Norwegian-British expedition made the first recorded ascent on 21 July 1950. The climb approached from the South Barum Glacier and followed the mountain’s south ridge.