Top 10 Indian Mountaineers

Top Indian Mountaineers - India, the host of the highest mountain range in the world, the Himalayas, is indeed a fantastic place for mountaneering. Desire to reach the unreachable and conquer the greatest heights is a leader that motivated and inspired many generations of Indians. Achieving their goal was hard and tough, but will power, patience, determination, and pure love for the mountains together with certain skills were everything these people needed to succeed. Take a look at our top 9 greatest Indian mountaneers of all time!



Best 10 Indian Mountaineers

Best 10 Indian Mountaineers
Best 10 Indian Mountaineers

It won’t be uncommon to know the best 10 Indian Mountaineers since India has the highest mountain in the world that is Himalaya. In this case, Himalaya is one of the fantastic and fascinating mount for mountaineering activity. This fact leads and definitely inspires the India generations to track the record of reaching and conquer the peak of the mountains. Along with the tough desire, hard goal, power, patience, pure love and determination which are packed altogether will help the young generations to achieve the goal of being the greatest mountaineers.

Here are the best 10 Indian mountaineers we have selected to review.


Mountaineer Krushnaa Patil

Krushnaa Patil
Krushnaa Patil


The first Indian mountaineers you have to know is Kruhnaa Patil. She is the youngest Woman of Indian Mountaineers who has succeed in climbing Mount Everest. She has won her best mark at the age of 19 in 2009. She also became the first woman listed as the top mountaineer from Maharashtra. This record arouse her willingness to climb the seven summit in 2010 but she has to summit on Mount McKinley because of some technical cases.

Krushnaa Patil is the youngest Indian woman who successfully climbed Mount Everest: she achieved this at age of 19, in 2009. This also made her the first woman from Maharashtra to achieve this feat. Her record of being the youngest Indian to climb Mount Everest was subsequently surpassed later. Krushnaa attempted to climb the seven summits in 2010, but due to some technical reasons, she had to abandon the summit on Mount McKinley, which was the last one left out of the seven. From a very small age she was passionate about mountain climbing; during her childhood most of her vacations were on Himalayas. Presently she is a part of an expedition which is an international program on clean water access and conservation.

This young Indian mountaineer began to like climbing the mountain since she was a child. Perhaps it was because she spend most of her holiday in Himalayas. Recently, she is already included in the expedition organized by an international program held for clean water access and conservation.


Mountaineer Malavath Purna

Malavath PurnaKrushnaa Patil
Malavath PurnaKrushnaa Patil

The second person listed as one of the best 10 India Mountaineers is Malavath Purna. She was able to reach the peak of Mount Everest when she was only 13 years old, definitely younger than Krushnaa Patil. This young girl was born on 10th June 2000 at Pakala Village, Telangana. Devidas and Lakshmi, the tribal farm labourers were the people who kindly helped her to see the world for the first time. Malavath Purna practiced her ability to climb by trekking Darjeeling and Ladakh mountains.

She climbed Mount Everest at shocking age of 13 years and 11 months, making her the youngest person on Earth to reach the top of the highest mountain. Malavath was born on 10th June 2000 in the house of the tribal farm labourers, Devidas and Lakshmi at Pakala Village, Telangana. She prepared herself for this ascend by practicing trekking in the mountains of Darjeeling and Ladakh.


Mountaineer Asim Mukhopadhyay

Asim Mukhopadhyay
Asim Mukhopadhyay

Asim Mukhopadhydy is the third Indian mountaineers you have to check out as one of the best 10 Indian mountaineers. This is the most popular mountaineer coming form West Bengal and best-known for his organizing scientific expeditions on Himalaya region which has a high altitudes. He was recorded as one of the best mountaineer because of his participation in the climbing expedition held between 1959 and 1974. This expedition was organized to climb on Tirsuli and Nanda Ghunti peaks.

Asim is very good for his vast knowledge he has derived on Pali, the Buddhist culture and literature. He became interested in climbing after finishing his M.A study in 1952. Just ten years afterwards, Asim has completed the training on mountaineering which was held in 1962. He hired a trainer named Nawang Gombu to help him loose weight and quit smoking. Nawang Gombu is a Mountaineer trainer from Tibet.

Asim Mukhopadhyay was a famous mountaineer from West Bengal. He is known for organizing scientific expeditions on high altitudes of Himalayan region. Between 1959 and 1974, he took part in those expeditions as climber and organized a few. He successfully organized the climb on Tirsuli and Nanda Ghunti peaks. Asim is known for the vast knowledge he has on Pali, Buddhist culture and literature. Asim took interest in exploration and climbing after he completed his M.A. degree in 1952. He completed his training on mountaineering in 1962: for this he has to lose some weight and quit smoking. Nawang Gombu, the famous Tibetan mountaineer, was his trainer.

Mountaineer Mohan Singh Kohli

Mohan Singh Kohli
Mohan Singh Kohli

Now you have to introduce yourself to Mohan Singh Kohli, the other best mountaineer I am going to review. This person traced his record of being one of the best 10 Indian mountaineers by participating in the team to summit of Mount Everest in 1965. He was also the president of Indian Mountaineer Foundation in 1989 and working there for 4 years. He was also co-founding the Himalayan Environment Trust.

Captain Mohan Singh Kohli is a world renowned Indian mountaineer. He was an Indian navy officer who was a part of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police. In 1965 he led a team of nine men to the summit of Mount Everest; this was a world record which stayed for 17 years. Kohli was made the President of Indian Mountaineer Foundation in 1989, and he served there for 4 years. In the same year, Himalayan Environment Trust was also co-founded by him. Mohan Singh Kohli received many awards, such as Padma Bhushan, Arjuna Award, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, IMF Gold Medal, Punjab Government’s Nishan-e-Khalsa, Most Distinguished Citizen of Delhi Award, the Tenzing Norgay Lifetime National Adventure Award, and several other recognitions worldwide.

There were many awards that Kohli received as appreciation. Those great awards included Padma Bhushan, Arjuna Award, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, IMF Gold Medal, Punjab Government’s Nishan-e-Khalsa, and many other awards listed as international awards.


Mountaineer Narendra Dhar Jayal

Narendra Dhar Jayal
Narendra Dhar Jayal

The next Indian Mountaineer you have to know is Narendra Dhar Jayal. He was the major and well-known as Nandu. He was the officer working for Indian Army Corps of Engineers and Bengal Sappers. He was also popular with his best mark in “Marco Polo of Indian Mountaineering”. During the early years of independence and supported by his education in Doon School, Narendra participated in climbing sport for Amateur Mountain.

Major Narendra Dhar Jayal, also known as Nandu, was an officer of the Indian Army Corps of Engineers and the Bengal Sappers. This legendary man was also known as the ‘Marco Polo of Indian Mountaineering’. Educated in Doon school, Nandu patronized and pioneered Amateur Mountain climbing sport during the early years of independence. Jayal in the age of 16 went for an expedition to Awar Valley above Badrinath, climbing 6000 meters. He was the principal and founder of the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute located at Darjeeling. Tenzing Norgay of the Everest fame was the chief instructor of the institute.

As one of the best 10 Indian Mountaineers, Narendra wnet for 6000 meters expedition to Awar Valley above Badrinath when he was only 16 years old. Other marks owned by Narendra you have to know is that he was the principal as well as founder of Himalayan Mountaineering Institute which is situated at Darjeeling.


Mountaineer Mandip Singh Soin

Mandip Singh Soin
Mandip Singh Soin

Other Indian Mountaineer listed in the world track is Mandip Singh Soin. Born in 9th March 1957, this man was well-known for his track to be explorer, mountaineer, ecotourism and adventure experts, a member of Royal Geographical Society, advocate of responsible tourism, and president as well as the founder of Ecotourism society of India.

Mandip Singh Soin was born in 9th March 1957. This prominent explorer, mountaineer, ecotourism and adventure travel expert, a member of Royal Geographical Society, President and founder of the Ecotourism Society of India, and advocate of responsible tourism, he was the first Indian to climb Mount Meru in 1986. He also carried out several other climbs in Wales, Swiss Alps, Scotland, and Italian Dolomites. He has received many awards, such as ‘Best Outstanding Green Leader’, ‘India’s Most Versatile Adventurer’, the Ness Award, International Institute for Peace award, and ‘Arjuna Award of Adventure’. In 2003, for his contribution towards Himalayan Environment, Sir Edmund Hillary awarded him with the Award of Appreciation.

Mandip started his mountaineering firstly in the act of climbing Mount Meru in 1986. He was also the person who organized some other climbs such as those were in Wales, Swiss Alps, Scotland, and Italian Dolomites. There were many awards he received including “Best Outstanding Green leader”, “India’s Most Versatile Adventurer”, “The Nest Award”, “International Institute for Peace award”, and “Arjuna Award of Adventure.”

As one of the best 10 Indian Mountaineers, Mandip also contributed much toward the Himalayan environment. Thus, he got “Award of Apreciation” given by Sir Edmund Hillary.


Mountaineer Gurdial Singh

Gurdial Singh
Gurdial Singh

You can list Gurdial Singh as the most important mountaineer in the world. His record of being the mountaineer was started by his first participation in the expedition to Trisul in 1951. Following education in Doon School, he was much inspired by Englishmen like Jack Gibson, R.L. Holdsworth, and John Martin to seriously come with mountaineering. He could be able to climb many peaks when he was following his school principal who was a member of Alpine Club. The peaks were Kamet, Trisul, Bardarpuch, Nanda Devi and Abi Gamin. Gurdial was awarded for his best contributions in mountaineering such as Padma Shri, Arjuna Award, Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award and Lifetime Achievement Award.

Gurdial Singh is one of the India’s most prominent mountaineers. He led India’s first expedition to Trisul in 1951. Being a student of the renowned ‘Doon School, Gurdial Singh was influenced by Englishmen, such as Jack Gibson, R. L. Holdsworth, and John Martyn to take up mountaineering. Together with the first headmaster of the school, Arthur Foot, who was a member of the Alpine Club, he climbed many peaks including Kamet, Trisul, Bandarpunch, Nanda Devi, and Abi Gamin. Gurdial was the first Indian to become the member of the renowned Alpine Club. He received many awards, including Padma Shri, Arjuna Award, Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award, and Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions.


Mountaineer Narendra Kumar

Narendra Kumar
Narendra Kumar

The next Indian mountaineer out of the best 10 Indian mountaineers is Narendra Kumar. Narendra Kumar was also called as “Bull”. He is an Indian soldier mountaineer who started his expedition in 1978 to Siachen Glacier, Teram Kangri and Saltoro Range. This was his reconnaissance mountaineering expedition that lead him to be the top Indian Mountaineer. The expedition was succeeded as the Indian Army Expedition when he was 45 years old. Kumar was able to climb seven mountain ranges that were Aqil, Karakoram, Saltoro, Ladakh, Zanskar, Pir Pinjal Range and Himalayas.

Colonel Narendra Kumar, as known as ‘Bull’, is an Indian soldier mountaineer. Kumar is known for his reconnaissance mountaineering expedition in 1978 to Siachen Glacier, Teram Kangri, and Saltoro Range. He carried out this expedition for the Indian Army at the age of 45. It’s only because of him Siachen Glacier is still a part of India and not of Pakistan: India conquered the entire 10000 sq km under him. Kumar crossed seven mountain ranges, namely Agil, Karakoram, Saltoro, Ladakh, Zanskar, Himalayas, and the Pir Pinjal Range.


Mountaineer Sudipta Sengupta

Sudipta Sengupta
Sudipta Sengupta

Now I introduce you to an Indian mountaineer who is the professor in Jadavpur University, Kolkata. Lecturing structural geology, this professor is also a trainer for mountaineers. She was the first woman who was able to reach Antartica with Afiti Pant. Later, she was well-known for her book entitled “Antartica.”

Sudipta Sengupta is a professor in Jadavpur University, Kolkata, where she teaches structural geology. Being a trained mountaineer, she along with Aditi Pant is one of India’s first women to visit Antartica. She is well known for her Bengali book ‘Antartica’. Sudipta was trained by Tenzing Norgay in Himalayan Mountaineering Institute. Numerous expeditions were carried out by her, including the climb of a virgin peak in Lahaul Region, which was later named as Mount Lalona.

It is very unquestionable to include Sudipta in the list of the best 10 Indian Mountaineers due to the numerous expeditions she participated in such as the Mount Lalona. Tenzing Norgay was her trainer in Himalayan Mountaineering Institute.


Mountaineer Bachendri Pal

Bachendri Pal
Bachendri Pal

The last Indian mountaineer you have to check out is Bachendri Pal. She was the first woman listed in Indain mountaineers reaching the top of Mount Everest in 1984. This great woman was born on 24th May 1954 in Uttarakhand and coming from the rural working class family. She decided to reach her successfulness as mountaineer although her parents didn’t agree about her career. She was also included in the selection of joining the India’s first mixed gender team to carry out an expedition to Mount Everest.

On the way reaching the top of Mount Everest, some team mates got injury, however, Bachendri didn’t want to give up. She and her team could finally reach the top of Mount Everest on 23rd May 1984. Due to the fact of being the only woman left in the team, she decided to carry out different expeditions including First Indian Woman Trans-Himalayan Expedition held in 1997. It was recorded that she had more than 40 mountain climbing experience.

This Indian mountaineer became the first Indian woman to reach the peak of Mount Everest in 1984. Bachendri was born in Uttarakhand on 24th May 1954 in a rural working class family. Inspite of facing stiff opposition from relatives and parents while choosing this career, she stood by her decision and became a successful mountaineer. She was chosen to join India’s first mixed gender team for the expedition to Mount Everest. While ascending, this team faced an avalanche which injured some of the team mates. More than half of the team abandoned the expedition, but Bachendri did not give up. At last, on 23rd May 1984 the team reached the peak of Mount Everest successfully. She was the only woman left in the team at that time. After this, Bachendri continued to carry out different expeditions. In 1997, she attended the “First Indian Women Trans-Himalayan Expedition”, which consisted of a team of 8 women, who completed the journey by trekking from the Eastern part of Himalayas, starting from Arunachal Pradesh to the Western part and ending at the Siachen Glacier. More than 40 mountain passes were crossed covering a total of 4500 Km in 225 days. This was a world record, and India became the first country to achieve the same.


Conclusion on Top Indian Mountaineers

Overall, these best 10 Indian mountaineers were great in the history of mountaineering. Nothing could be reached without any hard work. They proved it.

Thoughts on "Top 10 Indian Mountaineers"

Try the new FREE GiveAways Page

Something wrong ? Try refresh this page

Whitelist, remove adblock to see all the secrets. Once done, hit refresh button below.