Chennai Teen Nisha Sasikumar Becomes Youngest Woman to Summit Mount Everest via Nepal’s South Col Route
Sixteen-year-old Chennai mountaineer Nisha Sasikumar successfully summited Mount Everest on May 25, 2026, becoming the youngest woman in the world to achieve the feat via the South Col route from Nepal.
The achievement marks a significant milestone in Indian mountaineering and advances her quest to complete the Seven Summits challenge.
Chennai: Sixteen-year-old mountaineer Nisha Sasikumar from Chennai has successfully summited Mount Everest, becoming the youngest woman in the world to climb the highest peak on Earth via the South Col route from Nepal at the age of 16 years and 80 days.
Nisha reached the summit of the 8,848.86-metre mountain on May 25, 2026, as part of an expedition organised by Elite Exped. She is currently descending safely after completing the ascent. During the expedition, she was supported by Sherpa guides Tenji Sherpa, Phura Dorji Sherpa and Phursang Sherpa.
Born in Chennai in March 2010, Nisha’s achievement places her among the youngest climbers globally to have conquered Mount Everest and marks a notable milestone for Indian mountaineering.
Reflecting on the achievement, Nisha said that reaching the summit was a surreal experience and that the journey reinforced the importance of resilience, preparation and self-belief in overcoming challenges.
Her father, Sasikumar Gendham, described the climb as a proud moment for the family, stating that Nisha’s determination and commitment helped her overcome the demanding conditions of the expedition.
Nisha’s Everest expedition began on April 15, 2026, when she arrived in Lukla from Kathmandu. The climb involved an eight-day trek to Everest Base Camp, followed by acclimatisation, technical training and rotational climbs through the Khumbu Icefall to Camp 1, Camp 2 and Camp 3 before the final summit push.
The Everest ascent forms part of Nisha’s ongoing mission to complete the Seven Summits challenge, which involves climbing the highest mountain on each continent. Since April 2025, she has successfully summited Mount Elbrus, Mount Kilimanjaro, Mount Kosciuszko, Carstensz Pyramid, Aconcagua and Mount Everest.
In October 2025, she became the youngest female to summit Carstensz Pyramid, a record that was later confirmed by the India Book of Records.
Nisha is scheduled to attempt Denali in June 2026 and Vinson Massif in November 2026 as she continues her pursuit of completing the Seven Summits challenge.
