Bachendri Pal

Bachendri Pal (born 24 May 1954) is an Indian mountaineer renowned for becoming the first Indian woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest in 1984. Celebrated as a pioneer of women’s mountaineering in India, she has inspired generations through her expeditions, leadership roles and extensive contributions to adventure training. In recognition of her achievements, she received several national honours, including the Padma Bhushan in 2019.

Early Life and Education

Bachendri Pal was born in Nakuri village in Uttarkashi district, Uttarakhand, into a Bhotiya family engaged in traditional border trade. The third of five children, she grew up in a mountainous environment that shaped her affinity for outdoor activity. Her father, Shri Kishan Singh Pal, transported goods from India to Tibet, while her mother, Hansa Devi, managed the household.
She completed her Master of Arts and Bachelor of Education degrees at DAV Post Graduate College, Dehradun. Pal’s introduction to mountaineering began at age twelve, when she scaled a high peak during a school excursion. Recognising her potential, her school principal encouraged her to pursue higher studies and formal mountaineering training.
At the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering, she distinguished herself by becoming the first woman to ascend Mount Gangotri and Mount Rudragaira in 1982. Soon after, she became an instructor at the National Adventure Foundation, which focused on developing adventure programmes for women. Despite initial opposition from her family, who expected her to become a schoolteacher, she continued to devote herself to mountaineering and gained recognition for her climbing skill and determination.

Ascent of Mount Everest, 1984

In 1984 India organised its fourth Everest expedition, known as Everest ’84, comprising six women and eleven men. Bachendri Pal was selected for the team and travelled to Kathmandu in March before beginning the slow ascent through successive camps. Her reflections on first seeing the mountain expressed the reverence many hill communities hold toward the Himalayas.
During the expedition, the team encountered severe challenges. An avalanche struck their camp at night, injuring several climbers and causing many to abandon the attempt. Despite the dangers, Pal and the remaining team pressed forward. On 22 May, she joined a final ascent group led by Sherpa sirdar Ang Dorje. She was the only woman among the summit team and demonstrated extraordinary resilience under extreme weather conditions, including strong winds and freezing temperatures.
At 1:07 pm on 23 May 1984, the team reached the summit, making Bachendri Pal the first Indian woman to stand atop Mount Everest—a milestone achieved just a day before her thirtieth birthday. Her success remains a landmark moment in Indian sporting history.

Continued Expeditions and Leadership

Following her Everest achievement, Bachendri Pal continued to lead and participate in major adventure initiatives:

• Indo-Nepalese Women’s Mount Everest Expedition (1993): Led by Pal, this team achieved an unprecedented record when 18 climbers, including 7 women, summited Everest.
• The Great Indian Women’s Rafting Voyage (1994): She led 18 women in a rafting expedition down the Ganges from Haridwar to Kolkata, a journey completed in 39 days.
• First Indian Women Trans-Himalayan Expedition (1997): A team of eight women trekked from Arunachal Pradesh to the Siachen Glacier, crossing more than 40 high-altitude passes over 225 days and covering hundreds of kilometres. They reached Indira Col, India’s northernmost point, marking a historic first for any expedition.

Her work also extended to training and mentoring young mountaineers, especially women, through institutional roles and expedition leadership.

Social Service and Disaster Relief

In 2013, following the devastating North India floods, Bachendri Pal joined rescue and relief operations in Uttarkashi along with Premlata Agarwal and other experienced climbers. The group assisted remote Himalayan villages, delivering supplies and helping with evacuation efforts in difficult high-altitude terrain.

Awards and Honours

Bachendri Pal has received numerous accolades throughout her career, including:

• Gold Medal for Excellence in Mountaineering, Indian Mountaineering Foundation (1984)
• Padma Shri, Government of India (1984)
• Arjuna Award, Government of India (1986)
• Calcutta Ladies Study Group Award (1986)
• Listed in Guinness World Records (1990)
• National Adventure Award, Government of India (1994)
• Government of Uttar Pradesh Honours (1995)
• Honorary Doctorate, Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University (1997)
• Virangana Lakshmibai Rashtriya Samman, Government of Madhya Pradesh (2013)
• Banga Bibhushan, East Bengal Club (2014)
• Padma Bhushan, Government of India (2019)
• State Honour, Government of Uttarakhand (2021)