Divya Singh from Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, has become the first Indian woman to reach Mount Everest Base Camp by bicycle, hoisting the flag at an altitude of 17,560 feet.

She achieved this milestone on March 24, 2026, becoming the second woman globally to cycle to the base camp of Mount Everest, where the temperature was -12 degrees Celsius at the time.

Her cycling journey began on March 16, 2026, from Kathmandu, passing through Salleri, Surkhe, Phakding, Sagarmatha National Park, Namche Bazaar, Deboche, Pheriche, Lobuche, and Gorak Shep before arriving at the base camp. The expedition took 14 days to complete.

In an interview, Divya revealed that during a trek to Mount Everest Base Camp about one and a half years ago, she learned that no Indian woman had ever reached the camp by bicycle, which motivated her to attempt the feat. “Ever since I got to know about Mount Everest, I have wanted to see it in person. About one and a half years ago, I went trekking to the Mount Everest Base Camp and got to know that no woman has ever reached there by bicycle, and it occurred to me that I should try this,” she stated.

She described the journey as challenging due to high-altitude conditions, including motion sickness, low oxygen levels, and a rapid heartbeat. “It was not easy; there were difficulties. When you reach high altitude, the entire environment changes. Your body reacts differently. You experience motion sickness, lack of oxygen, fast heartbeat and other environmental challenges,” Divya said.

Her mentor, Kumar Singh, noted that while many have reached Mount Everest Base Camp, no Indian woman had done so by bicycle before Divya. He said she took the challenge as a personal mission and undertook intense training to prepare. Divya comes from the village of Banauda in Piprauli Block, Gorakhpur District. Her father, Santraj Singh, is a farmer, and her mother, Urmila Singh, is a government school teacher.