Youngest Girl Everest Base Camp Trekker: Swara Patil's Inspiring Journey

At the age of nine, Swara Patil from Vasai-Virar in Maharashtra has set a record as the youngest girl in Palghar district to trek to Mount Everest Base Camp. Situated in Nepal, Everest Base Camp stands at an altitude of over 17,500 feet (5364 m). Swara, a resident of Vasai Umelman village, undertook this 12-day journey with her father Digambar Patil, Sherpa Janga, and Porter Preman. Prior to this achievement, Swara had successfully completed numerous mountaineering expeditions, including climbing Kalsubai (1646 meters) in Maharashtra, Sarpas Peak (4220 meters) in the Himalayas, and now Everest Base Camp (5364 meters) in Nepal. She has also taken part in climbing expeditions at many forts within Maharashtra. 

The youngest person to trek to the Everest Base Camp though is another Indian boy, who achieved the feat at the age of seven in 2012.

Swara's mentor is Harshvardhan Joshi, who successfully scaled Mount Everest in 2021. She is currently a fourth-grade student at Carmelite Convent English High School in Vasai. The school principal has been a strong supporter of Swara's climbing adventures.

Having completed challenging climbs in the Himalayas at the young age of 9, Swara is earning recognition as a child climber not only from Vasai-Virar but also across Maharashtra.

The Everest Base Camp Trek is an exciting and demanding adventure that leads hikers to the base of the world's tallest mountain – Mount Everest. Beginning in Lukla, a small town with an airstrip, the trek follows the Dudh Kosi river valley through Sherpa villages, Buddhist monasteries, and alpine forests. Breath-taking views of other Himalayan peaks such as Ama Dablam, Lhotse, and Nuptse are visible along the way. The pinnacle of the trek is reaching Everest Base Camp at 5,364 meters (17,598 feet), where climbers prepare for their summit attempt. Another highlight is ascending Kala Patthar at 5,545 meters (18,187 feet), presenting the finest panoramic views of Mount Everest and neighboring peaks. Typically, the trek takes 12-14 days to complete and demands a moderate level of fitness. The most suitable time to embark on the Everest Base Camp trek is during the fall months of October and November or the spring months of April and May.