McMahon Line

From a Chopper, Shiv Kunal Verma Photographs the McMahon Line for the First Time.

McMahon Line · Aerial Photography

From a Chopper, Shiv Kunal Verma Photographs the McMahon Line for the First Time

"A soldier can spend two and a half years at a post and never get a clear view of the immediate ranges in his vicinity."
— Shiv Kunal Verma

In partnership with Fortress India.

The roof of the world — This is what the roof of the world looks like. I don't think anyone has seen what it looks like before — for in the last few million years this was always under a blanket of white.

Gori Chen feature with Gorichen Peak — "Gori Chen" feature with the Gorichen Peak that is 21,286 ft (6488 m), a sacred mountain in the Eastern Himalayas, revered by the local Monpa tribe as a "Kingdom of Deity" (Sa-Nga-Phu).

The Gori Chen glacier — The Gori Chen glacier.

Eastern flank of the Gori Chen glacier, Kangto in background — The eastern flank of the Gori Chen glacier, Kangto in the background.

Kangto I and II — highest mountain in Arunachal — Kangto I… at 23,261 ft (7090 m) is the highest mountain in Arunachal. Kangto II is at 6953 m… and the McMahon Line was drawn passing on the crest of these peaks.

Chomo and Nyegyi Kangtsang — Chomo and Nyegyi Kangtsang (also called the Nyegyi Kangto) stand at 6878 m and 6953 m respectively and are the eastern edge of the combined massif.

Dacha Bum peak and Namdapha River source — The Dacha Bum peak (4578 m — 15,020 ft) with the snow-capped area beyond Hayluiang visible in the background. The Namdapha River originates from here.

Shooting Gori Chen at 22,000 ft — Shooting Gori Chen… 22,000 ft, as close to god as you can get!

Flying with open doors at minus 32 to 40 degrees — Flying with open doors in temperatures around minus 32 to 40, and with head winds in valleys around 80 knots, it was quite a task.

Shiv Kunal Verma on the chopper — Shiv Kunal Verma on the chopper.

Namcha Barwa across the LAC — Across the LAC, Namcha Barwa (25,531 ft / 7,782 m) dominated the horizon, 36 nautical miles from where we were flying. From that height, three of the seven lakes on the Chinese side came into view.

Lake near Zikyen La — Lake near Zikyen La.

Lake on Chinese side — Lake on Chinese side.