Trekking
7 Kickass Indian Women Who Conquered Mount Everest
Once upon a time, not too long ago, it was considered impossible for women to climb the Mount Everest. But in the summer of 1975 Japanese climber Junko Tabei changed this long-held view when she became the first woman to conquer the tallest mountain. In the years following the 1975 triumph, women from different countries have shown true grit and an iron will to reach the Everest top.
Indian women have also not legged behind and starting from the first successful climb by Bachendri Pal in 1984 to the double ascent by Anshu Jamsenpa in 2017, they have come a long way, breaking many records on the way.
These women overcame stereotypes and even physical limitations, stood their ground, broke taboos, defied odds and fought their way to reach the top of the world’s highest mountain. They have shown exemplary courage and are the true trailblazers inspiring many others to follow on their footsteps.
1. Anshu Jamsenpa
A mother of two children, Anshu Jamsenpa created a sensation in 2017 when she became the first woman in the world to reach the Everest summit twice in 5 days! It was an incredible feat for any mountaineer as Anshu hit the global headlines by summiting the Everest twice – first on May 16 and then again on May 21.
2. Bachendri Pal
Everybody knows her. Bachendri Pal became a household name and a national icon when she reached the summit of Mount Everest in 1984. It was a feat accomplished by an Indian woman for the first time and Bachendri became an instant inspiration for women. A recipient of Padma Shri and Arjuna awards, Bachendri is quite active and trains the budding mountaineers besides leading expeditions.
3. Malavath Purna
Talking about shattering records, Malavath became the youngest girl in the world to reach the top of the Everest in 2014. She was 13 years and 11 months at that time. Purna has also accented Mount Elbrus, the highest peak in Europe. And oh yes, there is already a movie on her Everest feat titled ‘Poorna: Courage has no limit.’
4. Arunima Sinha
Arunima is the first female amputee to climb the Mount Everest. She climbed the Everest with a prosthetic leg in 2013. Arunima’s life is an inspirational true story of courage, hope and never surrendering to circumstances. She was thrown out of a running train by robbers in 2011 and one of her legs had to be amputated below the knee. But Arunima overcame this tragedy and after being trained by Bachendri Pal, she reached the Everest top. Besides Everest, Arunima has scaled many other peaks including Kilimanjaro, Elbrus and Aconcagua.
5. Premlata Agarwal
One of the best known and accomplished mountaineers, Premlata is the first Indian woman to scale all the seven summits, the seven highest continental peaks of the world, and also the oldest Indian woman to reach the Mount Everest. She summited the Everest at the age of 48 in 2011.
6. Santosh Yadav
An acclaimed mountaineer, Santosh Yadav is the first woman in the world to climb Everest twice – first ascent in 1992 and then again next year in 1993. She was 20 at that time. Born in a Haryana village, Santosh Yadav had to face many hurdles but beating them all she made her dreams come true.
7. Dicky Dolma
She was the youngest girl in the world to reach the Everest summit in 1993. Her age at that time was 19. Dicky had scaled the Everest as part of the Indo-Nepal Women’s Everest expedition, which was led by Bachendri Pal. An accomplished skier, Dicky Dolma lives in Manali.
