The Himalayas has always been an adventure destination for mountaineers and travellers across the world. The reason is that the scenic beauty of the mountains, takes us to a transcendental realm of adventure journeys making it a paradise on Earth. Often, people are awestruck by how nature has endowed these landscapes with its beauty and richness and a mountaineering expedition to the these ranges has been a dream for many. However, conquering the glacier peaks is not for everyone.
Meet 23-year-old ‘Himalayan girl’ Sumalatha Bajagoli from Maala, Udupi District, who has become an inspiration to those who dream to become a mountaineer. She is the daughter of a daily-wage labourer Babu and a homemaker Bittu. Despite having financial constraints from childhood, she chased her dream and learned to climb.
Sumalatha completed her third mountaineering adventure in September this year, hitting a height of 15,407 feet at Pahalgam Mount Sunset Point in Jammu and Kashmir. She was one among the 28-member student team, which included 13 men and 15 women.
“I was very brave as a child and involved in a different sport. I had no information about such an adventure. Initially, my parents were hesitant, but they ultimately saw my talent and passion towards mountaineering. Ever since, they have been extremely supportive and have assisted me in every way possible. After three such mountaineering expeditions since 2017, they are now content and will support me on my next expeditions too,” said Sumalatha.
She further said that the warden at her college, Suchitra Suvarna, motivated and also encouraged her to become a part of a mountaineering expedition organised by the General Thimayya National Academy of Adventure. She was pursuing BA in Journalism from Dr. G. Shankar Government Women First Grade College in Ajjarakad.
During mountaineering expedition, there are many things to consider, including frostbite, hypothermia, adaptation concerns as well as risks from rough terrain, avalanches, and unpredictable weather. The journey indeed was difficult but her undeterred willpower, passion, practice and determination helped her reach the peak. “Going to Glacier is an amazing experience but a hike across it is the most difficult part of the expedition. Moving to a high-altitude place creates fear,” she stressed.
Expressing the delight over the achievement Sumalatha said, “Despite all this, it was a delight to hike in the Himalayas, and I was extremely happy to hold the Indian and Karnataka flags as the only first lady from the Udupi District.”
Sumalatha ascended Sikadhar Shikar for the first time in 2017, reaching a height of 14,800 feet. Following this, she reached a height of 11,500 feet on the Thajiwas tabletop in Sonamarg, Jammu & Kashmir, in 2019.
Sumalatha believes that people have all the talent within them and it should be used in the right way. “Next, I will be taking up an advanced course and I’m certain I’ll go again for more adventure,” she said.
