The sunlit peak of Kanchendzonga peeking through the cloud cover. Photo taken from the Lamune campsite on the Yuksom-Gochela trek.

If i had to pick one magical moment from all my travels then this would be it. The Golden sunrise over the Kanchendzonga range.

This was the culmination of the 8 day Dzongri - Gochela trek in Sikkim. I was in awe of my surroundings even before the sunrise began. Just to be surrounded by 7500m+ peaks was magical enough. But then the first light of the day hit the south face of the barren Kanchendzonga peak. The mountain had a pink glow at first, and the light slowly spread down the mountain, and on top of the other 'lower' peaks. These snowcapped peaks reflected the sunlight back with such an dazzling brilliance that they literally shone like gold.

All around me the peaks appeared as if they'd been set on fire, the show lasted little less then 10 minutes. But it was 10 of the most amazing minutes of my life.

Kanchendzonga, at 8600m, is the 3'rd highest mountain in the world. After Everest and K2.

One of the peaks in the Kanchendzonga range lit up by the morning sunlight and shining like gold.