Last updated August 6, 2026

Bachendri Pal

Athlete1954 – Present

Notable figure from Uttarakhand

First Indian woman to climb Mount Everest

“Once you make a decision, the universe conspires to make it happen.”

— Bachendri Pal

Timeline

1954
Born in Nakuri village, Uttarkashi district
Early career
Works as a schoolteacher while pursuing mountaineering training, against considerable family and social resistance to the idea of a woman climbing
1984
Becomes the first Indian woman to summit Mount Everest, as part of the fourth Indian Everest expedition
1984
Awarded the Padma Shri in recognition of the achievement
1993
Leads the first all-women Indian expedition to Everest
Later career
Serves as Director of the Tata Steel Adventure Foundation, training and mentoring generations of Indian mountaineers

Explorer and cartographer who mapped Tibet and the trade route to Lhasa

“The mountains called, and I answered.”

One of the most celebrated Hindi poets, recipient of Jnanpith Award

“वियोगी होगा पहला कवि, आह से उपजा होगा गान”