Bhutan is home to Gangkhar Puensum, widely recognized as the world’s highest unclimbed mountain.
Gangkhar Puensum rises to about 7,570 metres on or near the Bhutan–China border, although the exact boundary position and measured height have been debated. Its name is often translated as “White Peak of the Three Spiritual Brothers.”
Bhutan introduced restrictions on mountaineering at high elevations, and climbing above 6,000 metres was banned in 1994 because of the country’s religious and cultural values. A broader ban on mountaineering followed in 2003. These rules prevented attempts on the summit and helped preserve its unclimbed status.
The mountain is sometimes confused with peaks whose summits have never been reached but are lower, or with technically difficult peaks that have been climbed. Gangkhar Puensum’s distinction is specifically its combination of great elevation and no confirmed successful ascent.