{{short description|Mountain group in Uttarakhand, India}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2015}} {{Use Indian English|date=July 2015}} The '''Arwa Group''' is a set of three Himalayan peaks, named '''Arwa Tower''', '''Arwa Crest''', and '''Arwa Spire''', situated in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand state, in northern India. They are situated on the south side of the southwest branch of the Arwa Valley, south of the dry lake Arwa Tal, and northwest of Badrinath. To their south lies the Bhagirath Kharak Glacier. Lying near the border with Tibet, these peaks have restricted access, and they have not been frequented by climbers until recently. However their steep, rocky profiles offer an extreme challenge to high-level rock climbers.
The three peaks lie close together and share a base camp. Reaching the base camp in the Arwa Valley, at an elevation of <span style="white-space:nowrap">4,350 m (14,270 ft)</span>, requires a three-day trek from Badrinath. All these peaks are on the Arwa-Bagneu divide and can also be approached from the south.
==Arwa Tower== {{Infobox mountain | name = Arwa Tower | image = | image_caption = | elevation_m = 6,352 | elevation_ref = | prominence = | location = Chamoli, Uttarakhand, India | range = Garhwal Himalaya | coordinates = {{coord|30|50|36|N|79|23|03|E|type:mountain}} | topo = | first_ascent = 14 May 1999 by Mick Fowler and Steve Sustad | easiest_route = rock/snow/ice on south face }}
The Arwa Tower is a peak with a huge rocky ridge along with a steep granite wall. The summit is a needle-like tower on the east ridge. The massif is flanked by many steep buttresses. The First ascent of the Tower was made by Britons Mick Fowler and Steve Sustad on 14 May 1999, via the northwest face.<ref name="aaj_2000">{{cite aaj|article_id=12200004600|title=The Arwa Tower|first=Mick|last=Fowler|year=2000|volume=42|issue=74|pages=46-55|access-date=2025-01-06}}</ref> In May 2002, a French expedition led by Antoine de Choudens (with 11 members) climbed Arwa Tower by two different routes: a first ascent of the south face, and a new route on the northwest face.<ref name="aaj_2003">{{cite aaj|article_id=12200309400|title=Arwa Tower, Spire, and Crest|year=2003|first=Antoine|last=de Choudens|pages=94-99|links=off|access-date=2025-01-06}}</ref> On 9 June 2007 Stephan Siegrist, Thomas Senf and Denis Burdet succeeded to climb the previously thought impossible to climb over-hanging north face route for the first time.<ref name="ch 2007">{{cite news|title=Schweizer Bergsteiger im Himalaya erfolgreich|website=news.ch|language=ch|url=http://www.news.ch/277937/detail.htm|date=9 June 2007|access-date=2025-01-06}}</ref>
===Routes=== *North West Face. *South Face - French Route *North West Buttress - Pilier Guilhem Chaffiol *North Face/East Ridge *South Face - French route
==Arwa Spires== {{Infobox mountain | name = Arwa Spire (East) | image = | elevation_m = 6,193 | elevation_ref = | prominence = | location = Chamoli, Uttarakhand, India | range = Garhwal Himalaya | coordinates = {{coord|30|49|36|N|79|21|44|E|type:mountain}} | topo = | first_ascent = 11 October 2000 by Andy Benson and Pete Benson (east spire, to base of summit pinnacle) | easiest_route = rock/snow/ice on east ridge }}
The Arwa Spires are a series of stupendous rocky spires which offer highly challenging rock climbs. The spires have two main peaks, namely the main (or east) and west peaks. (However, there is some doubt about which peak is higher.) They are situated southwest of Arwa Tower. The first ascent of the east spire (to the base of a small summit pinnacle) was made in October 2000 by a British expedition led by Kenton Cool, via the east ridge. Andy Benson and Pete Benson made the first summit climb, followed five days later by Cool, Ian Parnell, and Al Powell.<ref name="aaj_2001">{{cite journal|journal=American Alpine Journal|year=2001|page=370|url=http://www.americanalpineclub.org/AAJO/pdfs/2001/368_india_aaj2001.pdf |title=Climbs and Expeditions |accessdate=2007-04-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927212531/http://www.americanalpineclub.org/AAJO/pdfs/2001/368_india_aaj2001.pdf |archivedate=27 September 2007 |df=dmy }} {{small|(1.54 MiB)}}</ref>
===Routes=== *North East Ridge *North Face, Right Hand Couloir *North East Ridge *North Face - Fior di Vite *East Ridge - English route *Capisco to West Summit
==Arwa Crest== {{Infobox mountain | name = Arwa Crest | image_caption = | elevation_m = 6,250 | elevation_ref = | prominence = | location = Chamoli, Uttarakhand, India | range = Garhwal Himalaya | coordinates = {{coord|30|52|12|N|79|15|36|E|type:mountain}} | topo = | first_ascent = 2002 Philippe Renard, Grégory Muffat Joly, Laurent Miston, and Antoine de Choudens | easiest_route = rock/snow/ice on East ridge }}
Arwa Crest is the crest-like peak in the Arwa area. It is situated to the west of the Arwa Tower. The easiest route is via the north face. The first ascent was made, using this route, in 2002 by a French team including Philippe Renard, Grégory Muffat Joly, Laurent Miston, and Antoine de Choudens.
===Routes=== *North Face - French route *East Ridge
==Nearby peaks== *Kamet *Nilkantha *Chaukamba
==Nearby glaciers== * Bhagirath Kharak Glacier * Arwa Glacier
==See also== * List of mountain peaks of Uttarakhand
==References== {{reflist}}
Category:Tourist attractions in Uttarakhand Category:Geography of Chamoli district Category:Mountains of Uttarakhand