6 Trending Photography Destinations in India
Feb 21, 2025
Author: Alka
Adventure knows no boundaries – it transcends age, gender, and expectations. Beneath every fearless journey lies a woman who chooses courage over comfort, turning the wild into her canvas and adventure into her story. Dive into the stories of these remarkable women, and you’ll find real-life examples of courage, resilience, and boundless adventure. These women are those whom you must look out for in their adventure pursuits in the years to come.
1. Arunima Sinha: (First female amputee to summit Mount Everest)
No one could have imagined that the girl who was writhing in pain in April 2011 would soon dare to conquer Mount Everest, turning her tragedy into an extraordinary triumph. She belongs to Uttar Pradesh and from her school days, she only played Football and Volleyball due to her dedication, she made her name as a National-level Volleyball player. Her life took a dramatic turn when she was pushed from a moving train by robbers, resulting in the amputation of her left leg. While challenges were always a part of life, she decided to turn them into something good and set her sights on an extraordinary goal: climbing Mount Everest. After getting discharged, she didn’t leave for her home, instead, she straight up went to a name synonymous with courage and pioneering spirit- Ms.Bachendri Pal to take guidance and mentorship from her. Later she also took 18 months of training and sponsorship from Tata Steel in 2013 and made history by becoming the first Indian woman to summit Mount Everest with an amputated leg. Her journey didn’t end there she went on to conquer the highest peaks on all seven continents proving where there’s a will, there’s a way!
2. Aparna Kumar: (First Women officer to complete the Seven Summits Challenge)
“If there’s a way, good, but if not, I will create one” -these are the words of Aparna Kumar who became the first Indian woman to complete the “Seven Summit Challenge” climbing the highest peaks on all seven continents. Her journey wasn’t only about physical endurance but the striking balance between her demanding career and passion, despite her role as an IPS, she defied all the odds and believed in taking one step at a time to reach the zenith. It was in 2002 during her training days in LBSNAA that she witnessed all the Himalayan peaks and got fascinated with them. Then after her 12 years of service with no prior experience in mountaineering, she began her journey to the Himalayas in 2013 and went on to achieve incredible heights. Life is like a mountain, you reach the top, come back down, set new goals, and go for it again- you never stop. The mountains she climbed are made not only of rocks, snow, and ice but of dreams and desires showing that any summit can be conquered with the right proportion of determination.
3. Baljeet Kaur:( Summited four 8000 mt peaks in just 30 days)
Hailing from Palashta Panjrol village in Solan, Himachal Pradesh, Baljeet is a distinguished Indian mountaineer renowned for her remarkable achievements in high-altitude climbing. Making the most out of her tenure as an NCC cadet, she seized the opportunity to participate in an expedition to Mount Everest scheduled for 2016. This experience ignited her passion for mountaineering and in 2021, Baljeet became the first Indian woman to summit Mt.Pumori(7,161 meters) marking a significant milestone and achieving all four 8,000-meter peaks- Annapurna I, Kanchenjunga, Everest, and Lhotse in just 30 days. In April 2023, she again showed her resilience in front of challenges during her descent from Mt. Annapurna faced a harrowing ordeal when she went missing near Camp IV. She was later found alive and rescued, demonstrating her resilience and determination.
4. Anshu Jamsenpa: (First woman in the world to summit Mount Everest twice in just 5 days. )
Conquering the heights and dangers twice is no fluke—it’s a testament to the unwavering determination, exceptional skill, and relentless perseverance shown by Anshu Jamsenpa, a tribalizing mountaineer whose achievements have etched her name in history. Hailing from Bomdila in Arunachal Pradesh, Anshu holds the remarkable record of being the first woman in the world to summit Mount Everest twice in just 5 days. With her husband’s support, she continues to give meaning to her life and believes if you want to conquer nature then be in sync with it only then you can succeed. A mother of two, Anshu balances her family life with her adventurous spirit breaking stereotypes along the way.
5. Aditi Vaidya: (A prolific Scuba Diver)
She hails from Pune, Maharashtra, and shared how her experience of scuba diving provided a unique opportunity to connect with nature in a completely different way. Her underwater adventures complement her mountaineering pursuits, as both activities allow her to embrace the unknown and conquer challenges in environments. She has explored coral reefs and diverse marine ecosystems, offering a broader perspective on conservation and the importance of protecting the planet’s water that showcases her fearless spirit and her dedication to exploring and understanding the world in all its dimensions. She has also completed a PADI-certified course in scuba diving demonstrating her proficiency.
6. Priyanka Mohite: (Youngest woman from India to scale Mount Lhotse in 2013)
Priyanka hails from Satara, Maharashtra, and her journey into mountaineering began when she was in college motivated by a deep passion for adventure and the outdoors. Her Uncle used to take all their cousins to the nearby hills surrounded by forts and from there she decided to take it seriously by becoming the youngest woman from India to scale Mount Lhotse in 2013, the fourth-highest peak in the world. Through her journey, she aims to encourage others to pursue their dreams regardless of background or gender. In addition to Lhotse and Everest, she has climbed Mount Cho Oyu, Mount Makalu, and many others which have further solidified her place in the mountaineering world.
7. Srishti Bakshi:(Solo Expeditioner & Women safety advocate)
Srishti Bakshi is a tribalizing Indian adventurer and motivational speaker who gained widespread recognition in 2017 after undertaking a remarkable solo expedition called the “Walk of Hope” a journey that involved walking 3,800 kilometers from Kanyakumari to Kashmir, covering the entire length on foot. When she was 14 years old and went to the theatre with her friends, there was one incident that left her in a hysteric state and she questioned the state of women and broke down the stereotypes about women. She decided to create a safer state for women by increasing mobility through the movement of body and mind to take control over their lives. In her journey, she met around 85 thousand women and set up awareness camps to discuss the issues that are limiting them from moving forward- Why does the visibility of women decrease on the road at night? She went for this long walk across India to find answers to these questions about women’s freedom. Her story is a powerful reminder that with courage and purpose, one can transform their own life and empower others.
8. Meenakshi Pahuja: (First Indian to have swam across English channel under the most challenging open water swim in the world)
Meenakshi Pahuja is a remarkable Indian open-water swimmer and educator whose story inspires many aspiring athletes. She started her journey from a pool to the world of open water. After she settled her career as a lecturer at Delhi University, she pursued her passion and made a comeback. She has successfully conquered the English Channel, one of the most challenging open-water swims in the world, covering 33.8 km in icy waters with strong tides. She has become a role model for many in India and beyond, advocating for fitness.
9. Sheetal Raj: (Youngest woman from Uttarakhand to summit Mount Everest)
The tales of courage are incomplete without the mention of Uttarakhand’s Sheetal Raj, an accomplished mountaineer from Salmora village in Pithoragarh district, of Uttarakhand. She at the age of 24, became the youngest woman from Uttarakhand to summit Mount Everest. Apart from her success, she is passionate about empowering women in mountaineering and plans to organize all-women expeditions to promote awareness and opportunities in the field. She aims to cover all Himalayan states, providing training and support to aspiring female climbers.
10. Malavath Purna:( First Tribal to have ascended Mt.Everest as a teenager)
Though raised in a tribal family, her potential was recognized by Dr.Repalle Shiva Praveen Kumar, IPS, and under his mentorship, she was selected for “Operation Everest”, a program aimed at promoting mountaineering among underprivileged students. In 2020, Poorna was featured in Forbes India’s list of self-made women, highlighting her inspiring journey from a remote village to global recognition and her life story was also adapted into a biographical film,”Poorna: Courage Has No Limit,” in 2017.
CONCLUSION
Adventure at its core, is not just about the destination but the transformative journey that shapes the adventure. These women have breached the shackles of societal norms and redefined adventure in its true forms.
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