An eight-year-old Oman resident has made it to the second base camp of Mount Ararat in Türkiye, followed by his recent expedition on Mount Everest in Nepal.
Akshaj Udaiwal, a class three student of Indian School Al Ghubra, and his mother, V Anuradha, hoisted the Indian national flag after reaching the second base camp, 4,200 metres above sea level.
Akshaj started the trek on September 2, braving the hostile weather before reaching the first base camp, 3,200 metres above sea level.
The next day, he got acclimatised by reaching 3,800 metres above sea level before returning to the first base camp. On September 4, the mother-son duo resumed climbing to reach the second base camp of Mount Ararat, where they hoisted the national flag at the height of 4,200 metres above sea level, and were issued with the certificates by the Mount Ararat authorities.
“It was very windy, but my urge to reach the top was stronger. Though the temperature was -6 degrees Celsius, it felt as though it was less than -11 degrees Celsius,” Akshaj said.
The 'mountain boy' had earlier made it to the Asia Book of Records and the India Book of Records for being the youngest to climb Mount Nangakarshang, Everest Region, Nepal (5,077 metres ) on April 28, 2022, when he was only 6 years and 11 months old.
He was also awarded the ‘Honour of Appreciation’ from the India Book of Records for climbing the Chandrashila Summit in Uttarakhand (4,000 metres) on December 29, 2021. He was also the youngest to climb the Mount Everest Base Camp in Nepal (5,364 metres).
Anuradha, his mother, said he had been trained by the Indian Army’s retired Colonel Pradeep Bist, who spotted the talent in him at a very young age. Retired Lt. Colonel Romil Barthwal later honed his skills.
"I want to explore other heights across the world, and my next attempt will be to hike to Annapurna Base Camp in Nepal in 2024," a jubilant Akshaj told the Observer.
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