A proud moment for India! A 43-year-old Indian woman, Shivani Mehrotra, has now made the nation proud by scaling Mount Elbrus, Europe’s highest peak, and unfurling the Tricolour on August 15. The moment has not just made headlines across India but also reflects the strength and power of this woman.
Indian Woman Climbs Europe’s Highest Peak: Mount Elbrus
Shivani Mehrotra is a 43-year-old Indian woman and a mother to an 18-year-old daughter. According to The New Indian Express, she not only manages her home but also has a strong passion for the mountains, which began in 2019 with a trek to Mount Everest Base Camp with her best friend. And since then, she has not looked back.
Her love for mountaineering has now made her climb Europe’s highest peak, Mount Elbrus, standing at 5,642 metres above sea level in southern Russia. This year, she marked India’s Independence Day on August 15 by unfurling the Tricolour atop Mount Elbrus. The pictures of her holding the Tricolour are now going viral on social media!
Also Read: Blind Chinese Man Becomes First Asian And Third In The World To Climb Mountain Everest
Shivani Mehrotra’s Journey To Mount Elbrus
According to The New Indian Express, Shivani is a native of Uttar Pradesh’s Sitapur district but is now settled in Mumbai with her family. Her journey to Mount Elbrus was not just about physical endurance but also reflected her mental strength. Speaking to PTI over a call, Shivani mentioned that she believes age is just a number and determination and discipline are what matter the most.
She gave credit to her parents, husband, daughter and friends for encouraging her to pursue mountaineering. They have always motivated her and given her the courage to follow her passion for the mountains. Not just Mount Everest, but Shivani has also trekked to other destinations in Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh and several other parts of the Himalayas.
She has also taken on more challenging climbs, including Friendship Peak and Mount Kilimanjaro. Shivani has also completed four of the five major Kailash-related treks as well! For the Mount Elbrus expedition, she travelled from Mumbai on August 8, via Dubai, to Mineralnye Vody in Russia. The 10-day expedition was organised through a Russian company called Chatur Tours.
Also Read: Eight Girls, Five Boys And 5,895 Metres: Inside A Teen Expedition To Mount Kilimanjaro
The trek was quite demanding and combined darkness, cold, strong winds, heavy equipment and low oxygen, which made it quite challenging. But still, Shivani Mehrotra managed to complete it!
Cover Image Courtesy: Canva Pro/DmitryNautilus and @chahat_sitapur/Instagram
FAQs
Where is Mount Elbrus?
Mount Elbrus is located in southern Russia and is the highest peak in Europe.