Arishka Laddha, a 6-year-old from Pune’s Kothrud, has etched her name in history as the youngest Indian to conquer Mount Everest Base Camp, a staggering 17,598 feet above sea level. In April 2023, alongside her mother, Dimple Laddha, a marathon runner, Arishka completed a grueling 15-day, 130-km trek through Nepal’s Himalayas, braving temperatures from -3°C to -17°C. Arishka Laddha’s feat, celebrated by the Ministry of Culture’s Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, is a testament to courage, defying age and inspiring adventurers worldwide.
The journey was no small feat. Arishka, a Class 2 student at Ryan International Academy, faced oxygen-thin air, icy trails, and high-altitude risks. Clad in 7-8 layers of clothing, she trekked with childlike wonder, marveling at yaks, mules, and her first snowfall. “I felt happy. It was too cold,” she told Times Now, already dreaming of summiting Everest. Her mother, Dimple, took a bold risk, ignoring warnings that children under 12 shouldn’t attempt the climb. “Arishka’s an active kid, walking 7-8 km since age 4,” Dimple shared with Indian Express, citing their regular hikes up Pune’s Sinhagad Fort.
Dimple’s impromptu decision, sparked by Arishka’s enthusiasm after watching YouTube videos, paid off. The duo, part of a mountaineering group, trailed behind with a guide, taking breaks every 15-20 minutes, as NBC News reported. Arishka’s energy inspired fellow trekkers, who drew motivation from her resilience. “If a 6-year-old can do it, so can we,” one said, per Dimple. Her father, Kaustubh, beamed with pride: “She’s boosted India’s pride,” he told Times Now, despite initial fears about the treacherous terrain.
Arishka Laddha’s story aligns with young Indian adventurers like Malavath Poorna, who summited Everest at 13 in 2014, or Kaamya Karthikeyan, the youngest Indian to summit at 16 in 2024. Yet, Arishka’s age makes her feat extraordinary. Nepal’s spring climbing season, hosting 900+ climbers in 2023, sees few children, as permits for those under 16 are restricted for Everest’s 29,029-foot summit, per BBC. Base Camp, while less regulated, poses risks—over 300 deaths have occurred on Everest since 1921, per Himalayan Database.
Challenges abounded. Ladakh’s rugged terrain, where Arishka later summited Mount Elbrus at 7 in 2024, mirrors Nepal’s harsh conditions. Dimple, a CS-LLB graduate balancing motherhood and marathons, defied stereotypes, proving women can pursue passions post-childbirth, as she told Free Press Journal. Arishka’s school supported her, but rural India’s lack of adventure training limits such opportunities, with only 2% of schools offering mountaineering programs, per a 2023 NIE survey.
Arishka Laddha’s triumph, amplified on X as “Pune’s pride,” urges investment in youth adventure programs. Her story, covered by Live Mint and India Today, challenges norms, showing kids can achieve the impossible with guidance. As Dimple plans mountaineering clubs for Arishka, their journey inspires parents to channel children’s energy boldly, proving age is no barrier to greatness.